Thailand is a top-tier food exporter — coconut, canned seafood, sauces, rice products, fruit snacks, functional drinks and pet treats. US buyers can either import an exporter's finished retail product or contract a co-packer to make your recipe under your brand. The compliance load is similar; the cost and control profile is not.
Import or manufacture: the quick comparison
| Factor | Buy Thai stock / catalog goods | Manufacture to your spec |
|---|---|---|
| Time to first container | 8–12 weeks | 16–26 weeks |
| Upfront cash | Deposit only | Tooling, samples, certification |
| Unit cost | Higher | 12–30% lower at volume |
| Differentiation | Low | Full control of spec and brand |
| Change flexibility | Switch SKUs freely | Locked by tooling and drawings |
| Best fit | Testing demand, <50K/yr | Proven demand, repeat volume |
Break-even math
A ready-to-drink beverage costs $0.94/unit FOB as the exporter's own brand. Your own recipe and can artwork at a co-packer costs $0.79 but requires $22,000 for artwork plates, shelf-life and micro testing, and a formulation trial run.
200,000 cans/yr: saving $30,000/yr, payback under 9 months. 50,000 cans/yr: saving $7,500/yr, payback near 3 years — start with the exporter's brand or a light label change.
US compliance you cannot skip
- FDA food facility registration for the Thai plant, renewed biennially.
- FSVP — as US importer you must document supplier verification, hazard analysis and corrective actions.
- Prior notice filed before arrival.
- Nutrition Facts and allergen labeling to current US format; Thai export labels are not compliant by default.
- Acidified / low-acid canned foods need FDA process filing and a certified process authority.
- Add GFSI certification (BRCGS, FSSC 22000) to your factory screen — it shortens buyer audits later.
Running the program week by week
Weeks 1–3 shortlist GFSI-certified plants and confirm FDA registration. Weeks 4–6 formulation trial and sensory approval. Weeks 7–10 shelf-life and micro testing, label proofs. Weeks 11–16 first commercial run and pre-shipment inspection. Weeks 17–22 reefer or dry container transit and FSVP records filed.
Related reading
- Thailand food and beverage sourcing in Chiang Mai
- FSVP and US food import rules
- Quality control and AQL for Thai production
FAQ
Can a Thai co-packer make my exact recipe?
Usually yes, with substitutions for ingredients not locally available. Expect two to three trial runs before sensory sign-off, and get the recipe ownership and confidentiality terms in the contract.
Is a reefer container always needed?
No. Shelf-stable canned, retort pouch and dried products ship dry. Reefer is for chilled, frozen and heat-sensitive items and adds roughly 40–70% to the freight line.
What kills most first food programs?
Labeling and FSVP paperwork, not product quality. Detained shipments are almost always a document problem.
What MOQ should I expect?
Beverages typically 1 pallet per SKU for trial, then a 20ft container run. Sauces and snacks are often lower.
Does Thailand get preferential duty into the US?
There is no US–Thailand FTA. Some lines are duty-free by HTS classification; check line by line rather than assuming.
TUSKO is your single accountable partner: we shortlist and audit Thai factories, run QC, prepare the US document pack and quote a landed cost per order — our fee is built into the order price, never billed separately.