Thailand Pushes Premium Goods Into China Market
Thailand is ramping up exports of premium products to China, including fruits, health foods, and geographical indication goods, following high-level diplomatic talks in Beijing aimed at boosting bilateral trade that exceeded $147 billion in
Thailand's Commerce Ministry is accelerating efforts to boost Thai exports to China's premium market, expanding opportunities for fruits, health foods, and geographical indication (GI) products. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Suthumphand revealed the push following the Prime Minister's official visit to China on July 19-20, 2025, in Beijing, where discussions were held with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and National People's Congress Chair Zhao Leji to advance premium Thai product sales tailored to Chinese consumer quality-of-life aspirations, including Thai fruits, innovative agricultural goods, and health foods.
Thailand seeks to increase Chinese imports of Thai goods to create balanced trade and promote quality Chinese investment by pushing for local content use in Thailand. The ministry is also accelerating geographical indication (GI) registration between the two countries, particularly for three Thai GI products in China—jasmine rice from Tung Kula Ronghai, sweet tamarind from Phetchabun, and Siam ruby pomelo from Pak Phanang—to be completed by year's end to help boost local community income.
Superintendent Supachai stated that two memoranda of understanding (MoU) were signed: one on economic cooperation in industrial and supply-chain integration between the two commerce ministries, which builds on the success of upgraded ASEAN-China free trade agreement negotiations (ACFTA 3.0), establishing bilateral coordination mechanisms to facilitate Thai-Chinese supply-chain operators and strengthen MSMEs' roles in sectors such as technology, innovation, minerals, electric vehicles, and green industry; and a second on intellectual property rights enforcement cooperation between Thailand's Commerce Ministry and China's market regulation office to promote collaboration, information exchange, and best practices on intellectual property enforcement, while establishing points of contact to assist businesses affected by intellectual property violations in domestic and online platforms.
The ministry will continue economic cooperation discussed by both leaders during the Prime Minister's visit in the Thai-China Economic Joint Committee meetings, with Supachai and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng serving as co-chairs going forward.
China has been Thailand's top trading partner for 13 consecutive years. In 2024, Thailand-China trade totaled $147.34 billion, up 21.13% from 2023. In 2025 (January–May), bilateral trade reached $74.14 billion, up 28.38% from the same period in 2024, with Thai exports to China at $18.75 billion and Chinese imports to Thailand at $55.39 billion.
China remains a crucial export market for Thai goods including fresh, chilled, frozen, and dried fruits; computers, equipment, and components; rubber products; plastic pellets; and natural rubber, while Thailand imports from China machinery, electrical equipment, and components.
