Inside the coconut cartel: how Chinese money squeezes Thai farmers

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Aidan JonesMarch 15, 2026 at 03:30 AM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

Thai coconut farmers, like Supon Haochareon and his wife Lamduan in Samut Sakhon, are facing record low prices for their produce, particularly the aromatic "nam hom" variety popular in China. Prices have plummeted from 20 baht per coconut before the pandemic to a mere 2 baht, making it difficult for farmers to cover costs like fertilizer. The price drop is attributed to the influence of "lhong," or wholesalers, who dictate prices at warehouse clearing centers. These wholesalers collect coconuts from farms and set prices based on quality, volume, and customer orders, leaving farmers with little bargaining power and significantly reduced profits. The situation threatens the livelihoods of Thai coconut farmers who are struggling to survive.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States 40% Bangkok 60% Lhong ×270% Samut Sakhon 70% China 80% Lamduan ×280% Supon Haochareon 80% Thailand ×390%

Keywords

coconut farmers 90% price slump 80% thai coconuts 80% lhong 70% china 60% agricultural markets 60% wholesale 50% samut sakhon 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative

Score: -0.70

Source Transparency

Source

South China Morning Post

Political Lean

Center-Right (0.50)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Thailand

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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coconut farmers price slump thai coconuts lhong china agricultural markets wholesale samut sakhon

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