Flour imports to Thailand: who buys and how to find buyers
Flour imports to Thailand · finding buyers
Do you produce or export flour and are looking for buyers in Thailand? I help foreign suppliers find Thai buyers (retail chains, bakeries, cafés, restaurants and food manufacturers) and run meetings and negotiations in Thai.
Mike Boldyrev: 14 years in Thailand. Flour suppliers looking for buyers in Thailand have already come to me. I work with clients from Russia, the CIS and many other countries; terms are discussed individually.
- 6 typesof flour buyers in Thailand
- Samplesfor test baking
- 11,900 ฿a day of search and negotiations
- RU · EN · THnegotiations in Thai
The flour market in Thailand
Thailand grows almost no wheat, so wheat flour here is either imported or milled locally from imported grain. Flour on the market comes from Australia, the USA, Europe and other countries.
Demand is growing along with baking culture: Bangkok and the tourist cities have a huge number of bakeries, cafés, pastry shops, hotels and European restaurants.
Flour from Russia, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries can be competitive on price and quality, but it will have to compete with both imports and local mills.
Who buys flour in Thailand
Retail chains
Supermarkets and wholesale chains (for example Makro, Big C, Lotus’s), plus premium stores for foreigners.
Bakeries and cafés
Chain and independent bakeries, pastry shops and coffee shops that bake bread, croissants, cakes and desserts.
Hotels and restaurants
Hotels, European restaurants and pizzerias, especially in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya.
Food manufacturers
Makers of bread, noodles, snacks, biscuits and ready-made foods.
Importers and distributors
Companies that buy food products and distribute them to shops, restaurants and bakeries.
Shops for foreigners
Russian and European shops and bakeries in tourist cities, where familiar flour is valued.
What flour interests the Thai market
Wheat flour
The most in demand: bread flour, premium-grade flour, and flour for pastry and pizza. Buyers look at protein and gluten content, consistent quality and price.
Wholegrain and rye
A niche for bakeries making rye and wholegrain bread and for health-conscious buyers.
Buckwheat, oat and barley
Rare products in Thailand. Of interest to health food stores and to Russian-speaking and European buyers: for pancakes, baking and diet products.
What not to bring
Thailand has plenty of its own rice, corn, soy and tapioca flour, so competing with local producers is hard.
How to win over a Thai buyer
| What to prepare | Why |
|---|---|
| Specification | Protein and gluten, moisture, ash: bakeries and manufacturers choose flour by these figures |
| Samples for test baking | The buyer wants to see how the flour performs in their recipe |
| Batch consistency | A bakery needs every batch to be the same |
| Packaging | Retail: packs of about 1 kg; bakeries and manufacturers: 25 kg bags |
| Price and delivery terms | Price delivered to Thailand, minimum order, lead times, payment terms |
| Storage | A hot, humid climate calls for proper packaging and a clear shelf life |
What you need to import flour into Thailand
- A licensed importer. Food for sale can be imported by a Thai company with a Thai FDA licence: your own company or a partner importer.
- Registration and label. Thai FDA approval for the product according to its category, and a Thai-language label.
- Manufacturer's documents. Specification, safety test results, certificate of origin.
- Duties and VAT. They depend on the type of flour and the country of origin. We calculate them precisely with a broker.
Requirements change, so we check the current procedure for your product before the first shipment.
Two routes into the Thai market
Through an importer or distributor
A faster start and less investment: the partner already has licences and buyers. The downside is their margin.
Your own company in Thailand
More control over prices and sales channels, but more time, paperwork and investment. Company registration and licences are handled by my company UNBLOCK PRO ASIA.
How I help you find buyers
- Market analysis. What flour sells, at what prices, who your competitors are and where your niche is.
- Buyer list. Chains, bakeries, restaurants, manufacturers and distributors matched to your product.
- Contact in Thai. I contact buyers and present the product in a way that interests the Thai side.
- Meetings and samples. I arrange meetings and presentations and hand over samples for test baking.
- Negotiations. Price, volumes, delivery and payment terms. Contracts are reviewed by licensed lawyers.
- Delivery. Documents, customs broker, import control. Broker in Thailand →
From experience. Flour suppliers looking for buyers in Thailand (shops, restaurants and bakeries) have come to me. I helped them understand the market, looked for buyers and ran negotiations in Thai.
Prices
up to 30 minutes: we go through your product and task
per day; I estimate the scope in days in advance
through UNBLOCK PRO ASIA and licensed specialists
All prices include 7% VAT.
Samples and their delivery, duties, taxes and fees are paid separately. Payment is by PromptPay, bank transfer in Thailand or SWIFT from abroad.
Please note: I am an interpreter and business representative, not a lawyer. Company registration, licences and legal review of contracts are handled by my company UNBLOCK PRO ASIA together with licensed specialists, and customs clearance by licensed brokers.
Frequently asked questions
Is there demand in Thailand for flour from Russia and the CIS?
There can be, if price, quality and supply consistency are competitive. CIS flour competes with Australian, American and European flour and with local mills, so a strong specification and a clear price matter.
Is Thai FDA registration needed?
To sell flour in Thailand, as a rule yes, and it is imported by a licensed importer. We confirm the procedure for your product in advance.
Do I need my own company in Thailand?
Not necessarily. You can work through a Thai importer or distributor. Your own company gives more control but needs more investment.
What packaging is best?
Retail packs for shops, 25 kg bags for bakeries and manufacturers. It depends on who you sell to.
Do you only work with Russia?
No. Most requests come from Russia and the CIS, but I work with clients from many countries; terms are discussed individually.
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Looking for flour buyers in Thailand? Message me
Tell me about your flour, volumes and prices. I'll tell you who to offer it to in Thailand and what the work will cost.