New Zealand dropped restrictions on imports of cooked duck from Thailand in March 2017 and CPF has been the first meat processor in the country to exploit the new trade avenue.
The company expects export value for duck products to increase by as much as 25% this year, in part helped by the new trade with New Zealand.
“New Zealand is a potentially strong market for duck meat,” said Pisit Ohmpornnuwat, chief operating officer of CPF’s duck division.
Targeting new markets
“Although [New Zealand’s] sanitary and phytosanitary measures for food and agricultural goods are implemented at the highest level, CPF successfully complies with these.”
Talks to begin exporting cooked duck began in 2015, when the two countries opened negotiations over addressing the food safety barriers Thai duck exporters faced.
The first batch of cooked duck products will arrive in New Zealand by sea during April 2017.
CPF’s main market for duck meat is the European Union, with Japan and Hong Kong close behind. For cooked duck, CPF’s main trading partners are the UK and sovereign city-state Singapore.
Senior vice-president of CPF, Prasert Anuchiracheewa, said the business was eyeing new export markets, including Australia.
CPF claims to be the largest agro-industrial food company in the Asia-Pacific region. The vertically integrated firm is involved in pork and poultry processing, aquaculture, feed manufacture and farming.