After 18 years of suspended exports, 11 Thai chicken factories have been given permission by Saudi Arabia to export chilled and frozen fresh chicken, effective as of March 13.
According to Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, on March 13 the commercial ambassador in charge of the Saudi market and a charge d’affaires of the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry met with senior executives of the Saudi Food & Drug Authority and agreed that Saudi Arabia would allow chicken imports from 11 factories in Thailand.
The move came after Saudi authorities inspected those factories last year.
“This is very good news not only for Thailand but also for the overall chicken industry,” said Mr Jurin.
Saudi Arabia currently imports 590,000 tonnes of chicken per year, 70% from Brazil and the remaining 30% from Ukraine and France.
“As a result of this permission, Thailand will have the…
