Thailand's Fertilizer Supply Secure Until May Amid Global Shipping Challenges
Thailand's Commerce Minister, Suphajee Suthumpun, announced that the current national fertilizer supply is sufficient to last until May 2026. Although no producers have currently requested price hikes for existing stock, the minister warned that prices for new supplies might increase due to the need to source from alternative suppliers. This situation arises because shipments from the Middle East have been disrupted by shipping issues in the Strait of Hormuz. To address this, Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow traveled to Oman to resolve logistical bottlenecks, while Agriculture Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit engaged with Russian representatives regarding imports. The government is actively regulating prices as fertilizer remains a controlled good. Additionally, the Department of Internal Trade is reviewing price increase requests for cooking palm oil and shampoo. Beyond agriculture, the ministry is forming a committee to address plastic pellet shortages and has launched the 'Thais Help Thais' campaign with e-commerce platforms to lower living costs. Concurrently, Thailand is managing trade tensions with the US, which has initiated Section 301 investigations into Thai industrial sectors, with technical negotiations scheduled for mid-May.
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Thailand's Fertilizer Supply Secure Until May Amid Global Shipping Challenges
Thailand's Commerce Minister, Suphajee Suthumpun, announced that the current national fertilizer supply is sufficient to last until May 2026. Although no producers have currently requested price hikes for existing stock, the minister warned that prices for new supplies might increase due to the need to source from alternative suppliers. This situation arises because shipments from the Middle East have been disrupted by shipping issues in the Strait of Hormuz. To address this, Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow traveled to Oman to resolve logistical bottlenecks, while Agriculture Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit engaged with Russian representatives regarding imports. The government is actively regulating prices as fertilizer remains a controlled good. Additionally, the Department of Internal Trade is reviewing price increase requests for cooking palm oil and shampoo. Beyond agriculture, the ministry is forming a committee to address plastic pellet shortages and has launched the 'Thais Help Thais' campaign with e-commerce platforms to lower living costs. Concurrently, Thailand is managing trade tensions with the US, which has initiated Section 301 investigations into Thai industrial sectors, with technical negotiations scheduled for mid-May.
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