Brazil strengthens ties with Thailand, advancing agricultural cooperation and trade

Last week, Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), represented by Secretary of Trade and International Relations Luis Rua, visited Bangkok, Thailand, for a series of strategic engagements. These included the Southeast Asia and Oceania Meeting of SECOMs, SECTECs, and Agricultural Attachés. Organized by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), under the leadership of President Jorge Viana, and in collaboration with Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mapa, the meeting aimed to discuss strategies and practical actions to strengthen and expand economic relations between Brazil, ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), and Oceania. 

ASEAN, which includes Brunei, Cambodia, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, became the third-largest destination for Brazilian exports in 2023, surpassing Mercosur. Currently, Brazil exports more to five ASEAN countries—Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam—than to major G7 economies like Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. 

A key highlight of the event was a presentation of ApexBrasil’s "Export Boost Study," which identified over 2,000 opportunities for Brazilian products in ASEAN, with a focus on fuels, food items, and manufactured goods. 

During the mission, Secretary Luis Rua, accompanied by Brazil's agricultural attaché in Thailand, Ana Carolina Lamy, met with Brazilian Ambassador to Thailand José Borges dos Santos Junior and Thai officials, including Dr. Nalinee Taveesin, the country’s trade representative and advisor to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as well as members of the Department of Livestock Development (DLD). Discussions focused on trade negotiations, livestock cooperation, food security, and sustainable agricultural practices. 

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to boosting trade, particularly in the agricultural sector, and explored ways to expand exports while adhering to Thailand’s sanitary standards. Dr. Nalinee highlighted Brazil as Thailand’s top trading partner in Latin America and the Caribbean and its 23rd largest globally, with bilateral trade totaling USD 6.266 billion in 2023. This year also marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brazil and Thailand. The discussions underscored Brazil’s role as a strategic gateway for Thai products in South America, while Thailand serves as a key entry point for Brazilian goods into ASEAN. 

The meetings also focused on exchanging knowledge about sustainable livestock practices, such as Brazil’s "Grass-fed" system, where cattle are raised naturally on pastures. Both countries celebrated the resolution of a longstanding sugar dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO), which was permanently settled on February 24, 2024, during the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi. This landmark agreement reflects the strong relationship between Thailand and Brazil and further enhances their collaboration on international agreements. 

The mission also provided an opportunity for Rua to align strategies with other Brazilian agricultural attachés in the region: Juliano Vieira in Vietnam, Bruno Breitenbach in Indonesia, Luiz Caruso in Singapore, and Daniela Aviani in Australia. 

"By concluding this mission, we reaffirm our commitment to expanding Brazilian agribusiness in international markets, working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ApexBrasil to boost and diversify exports to ASEAN. This visit to Thailand has deepened our bilateral ties and opened new possibilities for regional cooperation at a time when the Asian market is becoming increasingly important for global Brazilian trade," said Luis Rua, Secretary of Trade and International Relations at Mapa. 

 
TRADE WITH THAILAND 

Thailand, Asia’s second-largest importer of Brazilian agricultural products, is a strategic partner for Brazil in Southeast Asia. The country offers significant potential for diversifying exports, including dairy, beef, grapes, nuts, and specialty coffees. 

Over recent years, Brazilian agricultural exports to Thailand have grown considerably, increasing from just over USD 1.3 billion in 2014 to USD 3 billion in 2023. The soy complex accounts for more than 95% of Brazil’s total exports to the Thai market. 


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