Thailand livestock margins improve as feed costs drop

Thai livestock farmers are seeing improved profit margins due to a significant drop in feed costs and steady selling prices for poultry and pork. According to Kasikorn Securities, the price of corn used for animal feed fell by over 15% in two weeks, reaching 10.25 baht per kilo following new harvests and the end of previous price support measures.

Selling prices have also remained firm. Chicken prices rose 1.2% to 43 baht per kilo, supported by seasonal export demand, while pork reached 68.2 baht per kilo, up 2.8% year-on-year. These conditions benefit major industry players including Betagro, Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF), GFPT, and Thai Foods Group. While imported soybean meal prices rose slightly by 1.8%, international trends in the US suggest costs may decrease soon. However, CPF faces challenges in foreign markets, specifically in Vietnam, where pork prices dropped 5.5% due to African swine fever concerns.