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Thai Exporters Guide [Download Your Free Copy]

This post is a supplementary resource for the popular ‘Thai imports' post written here, and will be maintained and updated when new supplier contact details are added (subject to a clearance check).

Below you can download the Thai Exporters Directory to find companies that can help you trade products between your home country and Thailand. I take no responsibility for any dealings you may have with theses companies.

Whoever you decide to do business with, like all business ventures, importing goods from Thailand comes with a risk of loss of investment. That said, hundreds of thousands of people trade successfully with Thailand every day, and success always seems to boil down to three key factors

  1. Research your market thoroughly: Find out where there is a demand and fill that demand. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel, so to speak. Find out what makes money and do it better than your competitor(s).
  2. Always test the water with a small sample of your product before placing a big order that could hurt you financially.
  3. Factor in shipping costs and import tax during your research. This is usually the make or break of a profit margin.
  4. Properly vet your supplier before establishing a working relationship. Never pay for a full shipment of goods upfront. Always use an escrow service to protect your payment (if possible).
  5. Ensure that all product transactions fall within the laws of both Thailand and your home country.

Before starting your import business, I strongly recommend you read this guide written by an experienced import/export entrepreneur. This book is full of industry-insider golden nuggets that from someone who has succeeded in importing goods from countries like Thailand.

Thai Exporters Directory

>> Click here to download the Exporters Directory

If you are a supplier and would like to be added to the updated directory, you must send me the following information. I will then investigate your company for suitability and decide if you are eligible for the directory:

Registered Company Name:
Contact Name:
Location (City):
Products:
Tel:
Email:
Website Address:
Line ID:
Skype ID:

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  1. Hi, I will be traveling from Uganda to Thailand next month for a business meeting.

    While at that, I would be open to meetings for open business discussions.

    I have experience in helping foreign companies establish in Uganda, offering legal and business advise. Any advise on how to go about that would be highly appreciated.

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply

  2. Hi I was in Chiang Mai last year and found some beautiful silk scarves with an elephant motif on. I packed a lot in my return luggage but would love to find a supplier and have some imported. I know that the people at the market would love to sell them to me but I have no way of contacting them. If anyone has any suggestions that would be great.

    Reply

    • This is a pretty common item so contacting any gifts/clothing/handicraft supplier should lead down the right route. They call them “silk” but usually aren’t (thankfully) and instead are a replica material.

      Reply

  4. I am interested in importing sustainably made, ethical, free trade, cotton and silk scarves and a small line of quality sustainable clothing from Thailand. Prefer to work with NGO or organizations that help Thai people, particularly women. I currently have a few designs that I would like to have made in Thailand. No sweatshops.

    Reply

  11. “Never pay for a full shipment of goods upfront. Always use an escrow service to protect your payment (if possible).”
    How do you do that? The lady I’m buying from wouldn’t ship to me until I pay her in full.

    Reply

  17. Hello, i was wondering if you know any 2nd hand / used shoes supplier in Thailand? I already did a research in google but somehow can’t manage to find any clue. Because I saw a picture once, which looks like a market somewhere in Thailand, if you let me know your email i’ll be glad to send the picture to you.

    Thank you

    Reply

  18. Hello, how are you? I am looking for tennis balls factories in Thainland to make business with (Thailand is a large supplier of tennis balls, btw). Any tips on how to find these factories on the internet?
    Thanks a lot! Kind regards!

    PS.: Sorry for the broken english.

    Reply

    • Sawasdee ka, thethailandlife.com , how I truly enjoyed reading your blog and the information you have shared regarding trading in Thailand.
      I am Thitiya, a medical student and I wish to help.
      With regards to Fabio Castelo ‘s request, I found out online few factories for you. By the way, I have nothing to do with the factories at all. You could check the map and may want to visit the factory prior to making purchases. I hope it could benefit you somehow.
      – srixon
      – bridgestone tecnifibre
      We, Thais, have a vast array of products of export quality. I wish that somehow one day language wouldn’t be a barrier when it comes to trading with us.
      Best wishes,
      Thitiya

      Reply

  19. Can u suggest me what kind of products are importing in thailand and what if i would like to open an hotel with 20 rooms with restaurant and bar in phuket…? Or any other suggestion regarding starting new business in Thailand

    Reply

    • Please download the export guide and have a look. It is linked in the post. As for the hotel, wow. Land is expensive to rent/buy in popular areas. This would be a huge investment and pretty difficult to set up.

      Reply

  20. I have a business question for you – although not about exports – and I’m not sure if you can answer it or not. And if not, maybe you know someone who can.

    Anyway, I have a friend who works for very large American company here and he is thinking of setting up an office in Thailand to do some contracting work for this company since wages are much lower in Thailand. It would be a fairly small operation and he would only need about a dozen or so college educated Thai workers, and I might sign on as the office manager. The trouble is, neither one of us knows much about the complicated process of setting up a company and hiring employees in Thailand. Also, I am well aware of the reputation Thai workers have for not being very productive and not taking much pride in their work. But perhaps white-collar workers are not as bad as the blue-collar workers are these days. I really don’t know. I would think that India or some other Asian country might be a better fit for what he is planning but, like me, he has a personal connection with Thailand and in fact he has been married to a Thai women here in California for over 20 years. Another potential problem is that this business would require a very fast and reliable Internet connection and I’m not sure how much speeds have improved in Thailand since I lived there.

    Anyway, do you think it’s too much of a headache to do this in Thailand? And what are some of the difficulties we might be facing?

    Reply

    • Dear Sir,
      The majority thing is what is the product and if only restaurant recently that much more easier to settle restaurant which owned by foreigner at Thailand and as you said your friend married to Thai woman then it is totally helpful. Restaurant can asking only part-time for waiter and waitress, need to hire only clerk and cashier. If you are really interesting to settle up some biz here, better share more on detail.

      Reply

    • Hi Ken, it’s not straightforward but very doable. In the vast majority of cases, the company must be majority owned by Thai shareholders and can be no more that 49% foreign owned. There are instances, such as tech-related companies, that can be 100% owned.

      Your friend would still be a majority shareholder and have all associated rights but the set-up would be 49/51%. You also need working capital of 2M Baht, and employ 4 native Thais for every one foreigner.

      I think employing the right people, creating a relaxed but productive environment and paying people appropriately is key to getting the best out of staff. My friend has a very successful company here that employs over 30 awesome Thais who work very hard. But he pays them and treats them very well.

      In terms of the internet connection. No worries. The internet is very good in most offices.

      Been meaning to write a post on setting up a company for ages. I will put it on my to-do list!

      Reply

      • Thanks for the info. I did not get an email alert for some reason so I had to find the article again today to see if there were any comments.

        Anyway this will be a high-tech company and from what I understand the work they do will actually be taking place in a database somewhere in the USA and they will simply be accesses that work and updating it from a computer terminal in Thailand. This is why a fast and reliable Internet connection will be a must. As for the company possibly needing to be owned mostly by a Thai partner this should not be a problem as his wife should be able to reclaim her Thai citizenship so she can be the Thai partner.

        I also agree that employees should be paid very well and have a nice work environment. And I think my friend feels the same way. He is not the greedy type who wants to make every extra dollar he possibly can off the backs of poor people.

        The main concerns I think he had was getting ripped off and taken advantage of in some of his business dealing over there. I told him of course that he needs to find a good Thai lawyer to go over any contracts. And I was also hoping to find someone who is very experienced at setting up businesses over there and possibly taking him on as a paid consultant during the set up process.

        The other problem I suppose is learning all the labor laws in Thailand, as we will be managing 6 to 12 Thai employees.

        Reply

      • I appreciate that but I’m beginning to have my doubts as to whether or not this thing will ever even get off the ground. I learned today that my friends wife is not totally onboard with it and since she tends to always gets her way, if she cannot be persuaded its just not going to happen. As the plan was not to be implemented until next year however I guess he still has plenty of time to try and convince her.

        Reply

        • Dear ken. I have an interesting story to tell u and if u need my help just email me for further assistance. I’m an Indian working in Kuwait for 25 years. I travelled to Thailand 9 times and from the first travel I wanted to start a business there. In 2015 I met my gf a Thai girl and we decided to start a company. I too read about 49/51 share process and minimum 2 million Thai baht requirement. I got quotes from several Thai lawyers fee amount ranging from 68000 to 123000 bhat. But I did a company registration with just 17000 baht and did not have to put 2 million bhat or even a penny. We now have a license and a small office in bangkapi. Our license can import and export 36 products. We now export medical devices to Kuwait. I got business for one year which is renewable and work permit without any hassles. I am the general manager of the company and the lawyer is working on the papers to make me a share holder of 49 percent.
          Kumar

          Reply

  21. Hi TTL,

    I recently visited Bangkok and purchased some hand made cotton handbags and purses, the manufacturer is Lankapow Cotton. I have contacted them many times through email and have had no response. They are based in Bangkok. I am wanting to import these bags in bulk to sell in Australia, do you have any knowledge of this company and if so can you help me in organizing this?

    Amanda

    Reply

    • I don’t know this company but I see they have a Facebook page. Try messaging them there. Thais are very active on Facebook and Line when it comes to business. Also, try translating your message to Thai. The secretary/office person may not read English.

      Reply

  22. Hi,

    Your blog is really helpful and interesting.
    I’m planning to exporting the handmade stuff from bangkok like the passport holder, wallet, etc that we can have our name on it but i could find the right supplier with that item on your list. When i went to bangkok i bought that stuff and i try to contact the seller from their contact details that provided on the bag also from fb but i didn’t get any reply. I won’t mind to go there for the starting for the business but i’m hoping to get a proper supplier that can help me supply the product without me going there every time i need to order. I hope you can help me or provide me with the contact of supplier if you have it.

    Than you,

    Vanny Aprilia

    Reply

    • Hi Vanny, I’ll be updating the guide with some more suppliers soon so hopefully one of those will be of use to you. I don’t know of anyone specifically who sells those items.Try contacting some of the suppliers on the list anyway, the ones with the closest type of product. Most companies involved in exports usually know of someone who can help.

      Reply

  23. Hi, my name is Cha-Em, I’m Thai now I’m looking forward to exporting Thai goods and products to other country, but now I can’t find the right target market and don’t know what product that most of Foreign importer will looking for. If anyone who want the products or other goods from Thailand please give me any suggestion as much as you want.

    Thank you Cha-Em

    Reply

  25. Hi
    I am Jane from Thailand, family’s company about wholesale garment male and female. i have shop at Jatujak Market gate 4 soi 2
    i would like thank you very much for this article, i interested to find customer and trader to export my product i have a lot of type and good quality.

    Reply

  26. Hi Peter,

    Hope all is well at your end.

    I am very happy to see your blog and I have gone through all the notes you mentioned and it is very useful and new knowledge too.

    I am planning to start a new men’s wear business in India, Kerala, and my plan is to import some good designed products from Thailand. It is very difficult go get good items (Imported )in India market, I seek your help.

    Can you please advise me on the same

    Reply

  28. Hi TTL,

    I’m a paper product importer from Malaysia. Recently i nearly got scammed through one of paper supplier website. So if you or anyone here can help me to find the true paper products supplier in Thailand please reply me. Sure i will try to contact the provided contact above. Thanks TTL.

    alfie

    Reply

  29. Hi Peter, (TTL)
    I did check and went thru the Directory but couldn’t find sustainable details.Isn’t it possible to do some kind of Direct Networking Among members i.e. an WhatsApp Group or something where one can post their specific requirement in the Group and the other members in the group who are in the same line can respond instantly & then onwards they can have communication offline.This is just a suggestion but i think this will be more productive.

    Reply

    • Hi Firoz, thanks for your suggestion. I can’t allow people to exchange telephone numbers or email addresses in the comments section, so I will consider another way to allow communication. The problem I have is that there are a number of scammers out there who look for opportunities on blogs and forums. I don’t want to be responsible for one of my readers getting scammed, which is why I created the reputable Exporters Guide.

      Reply

  33. TTL, just found this blog and read some valuable info with great thank to loves Thailand, I am Thai citizen and living in BKK outskirt area. I am working in Trading, logistics also Thai customs procedure since 1995. Recently I am starting to find the best way to export Thai product like sea salt, spa salt, Thai seasoning then that will be my good chance now. just need to make sure that below being the info you require for input in the list, right? and which page I can list all completely, please help to advise.

    Reply

  37. hi, thanks for your speedy response. I meant for the clothing, electronics and toys are cheaper in china yes…… but i want to verify about cloths in Thai, i here they are more cheaper there.

    How do i get your list of manufactures/suppliers. i am planning my trip and i really want to you my last saving well.

    The point is, i want to know if one trip to china is ok or i can make few profit from Thai clothing, by the way it doesn’t cost much for multi trip is even cheaper.

    Reply

  38. Hi. i want to start an eCommerce website and i want to my starter stock, we can i go for clothing, hp and ricoh toners and electronics. i have been in china and the price of quality clothes is the same as in my home country so i need a place were i can get good prices.

    Please help>>>>>this is my last long savings which i want to make a living with

    Reply

    • I’m not sure it gets much cheaper than China; most electronics are made there. You could try Thailand for clothing. Be careful with your savings. I’d research your market first and find out what products are in high demand to minimise your risk.

      Reply

  43. Hi, my name is Jihad lives in Dubai, and I am interested in importing Thai products to UAE market. I will be coming to Bangkok end of September 2015 to search for products; anyone can contact me for a new ideas or products. I will look forward for new business partnership. Thank you, Regards.

    Reply

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