Thailand has a strong market demand for plant growth regulators with China being one of its importing countries

Plant growth regulators are synthetic chemicals (or natural chemicals extracted from microorganisms) that regulate plant growth and development, with chemical properties similar to plant hormones. Based on their mode of action, plant growth regulators are categorized as plant growth promoters, plant growth retardants, and plant growth inhibitors. Based on their effectiveness, they are divided into ripening agents, dwarfing agents, and defoliants. Based on their similarity to plant hormones, plant growth regulators are categorized into ethylene and gibberellins.

The global plant growth regulator market was estimated to be approximately US$3 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach approximately US$4.5 billion by 2028. The expansion of orchard plantings and the steady development of ecological agriculture have driven the growth of China's plant growth regulator market, increasing from approximately 6.2 billion yuan in 2017 to 9 billion yuan in 2023. Driven by the sustainable development of agriculture, Thailand's plant growth regulator market is experiencing strong demand.

First, plant growth regulators can effectively increase production and income, improving agricultural economic benefits, and play a vital role in the cultivation of horticultural crops, cash crops, vegetables, grains, and oil crops. Second, Thailand is a traditional agricultural powerhouse. According to the "Thailand Trade Guide (2023)," arable land accounts for 31% of Thailand's total land area, or 15 million hectares, where a variety of crops, including cassava, corn, and natural rubber, are cultivated. As population growth drives increasing demand for food, Thailand's agricultural efficiency requirements are also increasing. As agricultural inputs that regulate crop growth, market demand for plant growth regulators is expected to expand.

As domestic market demand increases, Thailand's total imports of plant growth regulators from China are also on the rise. According to data from the General Administration of Customs of China, China's total exports of plant growth regulators (customs codes: 38089391, 38089399) reached approximately 27,000 tons in 2023, primarily to countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Egypt, South Africa, and Mexico. Approximately 2,858.2 tons were exported to Thailand, representing a year-on-year increase of nearly 43.1%.

Plant growth regulators have a wide range of effects and are highly targeted. They can enhance plant resistance, promote plant growth, and improve plant quality, contributing to the intensification and scale of agricultural production in Thailand. With the continued expansion of food demand and the government's promotion of precision and sustainable agriculture, demand for plant growth regulators in the Thai market is expected to increase further.