Thailand Becomes Asia’s Leading Ice-Cream Exporter Thanks to Tariff Cuts
Thai exports surge as free-trade agreements and raw-material edge push country to regional and global top-five status
Thailand has emerged as Asia’s largest exporter of ice-cream, a rise driven in part by tariff barriers being dismantled through a web of free-trade agreements.
Between 2020 and 2024, the country’s ice-cream exports averaged about US $106 million annually, growing at roughly 11 % per year.
The nation now ranks among the top four global exporters, behind the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The export success can be credited to Thailand’s extensive network of free-trade agreements (FTAs).
The country has 14 FTAs with 18 partner nations, and for ice-cream products all but one of those partners now grant tariff-free access.
That means Thai producers face no import duties in 17 of the partner markets.
As a result, in the first two months of 2025 the value of ice-cream exports to those FTA countries reached US $20 million — accounting for 87 % of the total.
ASEAN markets remain key, with Vietnam imports up 41 % and the Philippines up 70 %.
Another factor is Thailand’s well-established food-processing ecosystem and access to abundant raw materials — coconut, tropical fruits such as Marian plum, Thai tea and sticky rice — plus advanced cold-chain logistics and freight links.
Global makers such as Yili Group of China have established factories and regional hubs in Thailand to take advantage of these efficiencies and tariff access.
Thai entrepreneurs are leveraging this strength too.
Boutique firms like Lamoon Group have built their brand around flavours linked to Thai farmers, offering premium products such as coconut and Marian plum ice-cream tied to local stories and origin ingredients.
This positioning works in export markets seeking exotic flavours and provenance.
Notable export figures include a 116 % jump in shipments to Hong Kong and an 827 % surge to Japan in early 2025 — although Japan remains subject to import duties of 21–29.8 %.
With most partner markets enjoying tariff-free access, Thai exporters face fewer trade barriers and enjoy stronger pricing flexibility.
The government views ice-cream as a model for value-added food exports, encouraging local firms to maintain high standards and innovate.
The goal is to position Thailand as a regional hub for ice-cream production and exports, leveraging its competitive edge in ingredients, logistics and trade policy.
As global ice-cream consumption continues to grow — the world market was estimated at nearly US $87 billion in 2023 — Thailand’s factory capabilities and trade privileges put it in a strong position to capture more share and expand beyond current traditional partners.
Between 2020 and 2024, the country’s ice-cream exports averaged about US $106 million annually, growing at roughly 11 % per year.
The nation now ranks among the top four global exporters, behind the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The export success can be credited to Thailand’s extensive network of free-trade agreements (FTAs).
The country has 14 FTAs with 18 partner nations, and for ice-cream products all but one of those partners now grant tariff-free access.
That means Thai producers face no import duties in 17 of the partner markets.
As a result, in the first two months of 2025 the value of ice-cream exports to those FTA countries reached US $20 million — accounting for 87 % of the total.
ASEAN markets remain key, with Vietnam imports up 41 % and the Philippines up 70 %.
Another factor is Thailand’s well-established food-processing ecosystem and access to abundant raw materials — coconut, tropical fruits such as Marian plum, Thai tea and sticky rice — plus advanced cold-chain logistics and freight links.
Global makers such as Yili Group of China have established factories and regional hubs in Thailand to take advantage of these efficiencies and tariff access.
Thai entrepreneurs are leveraging this strength too.
Boutique firms like Lamoon Group have built their brand around flavours linked to Thai farmers, offering premium products such as coconut and Marian plum ice-cream tied to local stories and origin ingredients.
This positioning works in export markets seeking exotic flavours and provenance.
Notable export figures include a 116 % jump in shipments to Hong Kong and an 827 % surge to Japan in early 2025 — although Japan remains subject to import duties of 21–29.8 %.
With most partner markets enjoying tariff-free access, Thai exporters face fewer trade barriers and enjoy stronger pricing flexibility.
The government views ice-cream as a model for value-added food exports, encouraging local firms to maintain high standards and innovate.
The goal is to position Thailand as a regional hub for ice-cream production and exports, leveraging its competitive edge in ingredients, logistics and trade policy.
As global ice-cream consumption continues to grow — the world market was estimated at nearly US $87 billion in 2023 — Thailand’s factory capabilities and trade privileges put it in a strong position to capture more share and expand beyond current traditional partners.
