Thailand is the future leader in the production of halal products

24.01.2023

Thailand aspires to become the center of halal production in the world, as its halal products have gained significant popularity and demand around the world.

The Central Islamic Council of Thailand is calling on the government to support halal-certified products to help Thai food entrepreneurs expand their customer base. Members of the Islamic Council who are involved in the distribution of halal-certified products believe that there are opportunities for exporting halal products from Thailand not only to Muslim countries, but throughout the world. They noted that with the help of the government, Thailand has the potential to become a renowned hub for halal products around the world.

Halal Certification in Thailand

Samarn Adam, deputy secretary of the Islamic Council's halal section, said Thailand's halal certification ensures production and food meet Islamic hygiene standards. He went on to explain that companies dealing with halal products must undergo rigorous scrutiny, from production to distribution. This includes a visit from the local Islamic committee to ensure that the ingredients are pure and that the equipment is free of prohibited items such as pork, gelatin or alcohol. The local council then sends the opinion to the Central Islamic Council of Thailand—a process that can take up to a month.

There are currently 5,826 operators, 3,811 factories and 14,246 brands with 161,526 certified halal products. These foods include chicken and snack foods, vegetable oil and energy drinks, and sausages and processed meats. These goods are exported all over the world— especially to countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia— although exports have declined due to covid-19, they now seem to be returning to normal levels. Samarn believes that production will increase in the future, and exports will be even greater.

Leading exporting countries of halal products

Samarn, from the Islamic Council's Halal Export Section, said Thailand is one of the world's top exporters of halal products, but it doesn't get enough support from the government when it comes to promoting these products in the domestic market.

Adizin Nirae said exports rose to $6 billion (207.5 billion baht) in two to three years, and despite last year's pandemic hit, it still stood at $1 billion. He added that this growth trend will continue as Thai halal the products are well received internationally, even in countries with large Muslim populations such as China, India, the US and Russia, which are not predominantly Muslim countries.

As for the broader global halal market, its expansion will be driven by three factors: an increase in the number of Muslims, poor food security, especially in the Middle East and North Africa regions, and a change in non-Muslim shopping habits due to the purity and traceability of halal products.