Thailand is a country where Muslims make up only around 5.8 percent of the total population. Despite being predominantly Buddhist, it has taken strategic steps to expand its halal food sector and launch aggressive trade campaigns to capture opportunities in the global market.
This is where the interesting part begins: one of the world’s largest halal exporters is not a Muslim-majority country.
Today, Thailand is recorded as the world’s fifth-largest halal food producer and the 11th-largest halal exporter globally, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce. Its halal food exports include rice, fresh and processed fruits, sugar, as well as canned foods such as tuna and seafood.
The value? In 2024, Thailand’s halal food exports reached 335 billion baht, or approximately US$10.27 billion.
A Market Too Large to Ignore
The halal industry is no longer a niche market. According to Salaam Gateway, the global halal product market was valued at US$2.35 trillion in 2024, with food and beverages accounting for nearly 59 percent of the total, around US$1.38 trillion.
United Nations data from 2024 shows that the global Muslim population stands at 1.907 billion people, or 23.5 percent of the world’s total population. This figure is projected to rise to 2.761 billion by 2050, nearly 30 percent of humanity.
This projection is one of the reasons Thailand does not want to be left behind. Thai exports to member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) grew by 6.3 percent in 2024, reaching US$7.13 billion.
Interestingly, halal consumers are not exclusively Muslim. Non-Muslim consumers are increasingly aware that halal certification reflects strict standards of quality and food safety, which has broadened demand beyond Muslim communities.
Building a Halal Certification Ecosystem
Trust in Thailand’s halal products on the global market did not emerge overnight. The Central Islamic Council of Thailand (CICOT) has been working closely with the Halal Standard Institute of Thailand (HSIT) to promote the adoption of international halal standards and certification procedures.
As a result, more than 160,000 products, 33,000 brands, and 14,000 companies had received halal certification by April 2023.
The Thai government has reinforced this progress through concrete policies. In early 2024, the Cabinet established the National Halal Industry Committee and the Thai Halal Industry Centre to promote local products in international markets.
These initiatives are projected to contribute an additional 1.2 percent to Thailand’s GDP by 2028, while also generating around 100,000 jobs per year.
Ambitions Still Wide Open
At present, Thailand’s halal exports account for only 1.6 percent of the global halal market, a significant “opportunity gap,” according to Pattarapon Limpakdee, Deputy Director-General of Thailand’s Office of Industrial Economics.
To close this gap, the Office of Industrial Economics has developed a five-year plan (2024–2028) that includes the development of halal industrial parks, improvements in production standards, and expanded access to global markets.
Thailand is also aiming to break into the top five halal exporters worldwide. However, challenges remain, including trade barriers, certification credibility, and high logistics costs. Still, with more than two decades of groundwork already in place, Thailand appears committed to playing the long game in this industry.
