Sugar and cooking oil shortages in Thailand
Mar 24th, 2011, 11:11 PM
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's hard to tell. But, whenever the news comes out with a story of shortages, price hikes or the like, shelves empty within 24 hours. Probably a self fulfilling prophesy. The day after the evening news announced an oil shortage, we saw shopper after shopper lined up with carts filled with oil.
Mar 25th, 2011, 12:46 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is a travel website but if you really want to know then here's my take on the situation.
When the price of oil went up the importers of the key raw ingredient of the cooking oil, palm oil, used or sold the palm oil for bio fuel additives instead . The government had to step in and issue an emergency decree that a certain percentage must be use for cooking oil refining only. The cooking oil shortages is over but prices remain high.
For sugar the price is subsidised and is often cheaper in Thailand than neighbouring countries hence the high demand.
When the price of oil went up the importers of the key raw ingredient of the cooking oil, palm oil, used or sold the palm oil for bio fuel additives instead . The government had to step in and issue an emergency decree that a certain percentage must be use for cooking oil refining only. The cooking oil shortages is over but prices remain high.
For sugar the price is subsidised and is often cheaper in Thailand than neighbouring countries hence the high demand.
Mar 25th, 2011, 02:41 AM
#6
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What is interesting is that, with the exception of ridiculously priced olive oil, palm oil is about all that shows up on the selves. The shortage seems to be soy, sunflower, rice bran and other oils.
Mar 25th, 2011, 02:53 AM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not that interesting as olive oil in Thailand has always had high import tax levied on it. Olives are not indigenous to Thailand and not a staple of Thai cooking.
Sunflower and other oils are not in high demand since palm oil is the most available and consumers don't seem to mind what the main ingredient of the vegetable oil is.
Sunflower and other oils are not in high demand since palm oil is the most available and consumers don't seem to mind what the main ingredient of the vegetable oil is.
Mar 25th, 2011, 03:30 AM
#8
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, olive oil, like most imports, carries the tariff.
Soy, rice and other oils were in abundance prior to the "shortage". Since, they seem to have ceased to exist.
Unfortunately, palm oil has all the bad fats and none of the good. Its popularity has always been price based. Beyond that, and a long shelf life, there are few benefits.
Soy, rice and other oils were in abundance prior to the "shortage". Since, they seem to have ceased to exist.
Unfortunately, palm oil has all the bad fats and none of the good. Its popularity has always been price based. Beyond that, and a long shelf life, there are few benefits.
Mar 25th, 2011, 07:07 AM
#9
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We were there in Jan & Feb and I found it difficult to find any sugar on the shelves at three different supermarkets. For two of our weeks we were in a timeshare on Phuket and I ended up buying a small bag of sugar enhanced with calcium? which was all that I could find for our morning coffee, tea and cereal.
All the hotels and restaurants had sugar packets on the table so it was no problem when eating out. I also bought olive oil in a small bottle as I cooked in on a few evenings. Olive oil is always rather expensive but it didn't seem overly so.
Sue
All the hotels and restaurants had sugar packets on the table so it was no problem when eating out. I also bought olive oil in a small bottle as I cooked in on a few evenings. Olive oil is always rather expensive but it didn't seem overly so.
Sue
Mar 25th, 2011, 10:34 AM
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"This is a travel website but if you really want to know then here's my take on the situation."
True enough, but it might prove interesting to discuss general issues about Thailand, don't you think? I've learned quite a bit already from this thread. I like to keep up on current events and the culture and politics of countries I visit frequently.
True enough, but it might prove interesting to discuss general issues about Thailand, don't you think? I've learned quite a bit already from this thread. I like to keep up on current events and the culture and politics of countries I visit frequently.
Mar 25th, 2011, 05:12 PM
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Actually, I was alerted to it by a thai friend. When I asked if they wanted me to bring them something from the US, they said sugar and oil. They run a small catering business. I had visions of my extra suitcase being turned into a goofy mess, but it made it through okay.
Mar 26th, 2011, 08:55 PM
#14
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oil shortages are largely caused by a cartel of high-ranking people in and around the govt.
Palm oil is used both in cooking and as a bio-fuel.
so by fiddling with the supplies and the got subsidies they can make the commodity to valuable to sell as cooking oil.
They know this will happen and stock pile supplies - the got also has stepped in the restrict the retail price of oil - this means those who haven't stock piled will either run out or have to sell as a loss leader.
similarly the price of sugar - with is also used in bio-fules - has been manipulated on an almost annual basis.
Lastly the Thai consumer is as yet sill fairly unsophisticated when it comes to this and a lot of panic buying helps to reduce supplies and keep the commodity price high.
Palm oil is used both in cooking and as a bio-fuel.
so by fiddling with the supplies and the got subsidies they can make the commodity to valuable to sell as cooking oil.
They know this will happen and stock pile supplies - the got also has stepped in the restrict the retail price of oil - this means those who haven't stock piled will either run out or have to sell as a loss leader.
similarly the price of sugar - with is also used in bio-fules - has been manipulated on an almost annual basis.
Lastly the Thai consumer is as yet sill fairly unsophisticated when it comes to this and a lot of panic buying helps to reduce supplies and keep the commodity price high.
Mar 26th, 2011, 08:59 PM
#15
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PS - check your Extra Virgin olive oil - even if it has an "Italian" name it is almost certainly Spanish, which is a hugely inferior product.
Carrefour's own brand - of indeterminate origin has a flavour that is far superior to most of the "branded" ones here.
I believe "Colvita" is Italian and one or two other "specialist" brands also have the "right stuff"
Carrefour's own brand - of indeterminate origin has a flavour that is far superior to most of the "branded" ones here.
I believe "Colvita" is Italian and one or two other "specialist" brands also have the "right stuff"
