Thailand’s food safety testing equipment market grew 4% last year to $377 million. Over the next three years, the market is estimated to grow 3%, driven by demand for diagnostic or lab reagents, lab instruments (including protein and fat analyzers, gas analyzers, incubators, freezers, microscopes, physical and chemical analysis instruments, lab sterilizers) and floating meters for liquid testing. Imported food safety testing equipment represents 85% of the market, led by the US, which has a 31% share of the market, and Japan, which has 21% market share. Thailand is the world’s third largest exporter of seafood, with $5,578 million in seafood exports in 2008. In total, Thailand’s exported food products were valued at $19,262 million last year. There are 10 major food testing labs in the country and 10,159 food processors, but only the larger food processors export products. The import duty for lab equipment is 30%–35%.

Source: US Commercial Service