The Department of Foreign Trade in Bangkok has rejected criticism by coconut planters; they say that falling coconut prices are caused by an influx of imported nuts. The Government says that records show imports are down this year.
Coconut farmers in Prachuap Khiri Khan recently requested the government to deal with the problem of falling prices, blaming imports of the nuts for the price drop.
The Government spokesman said that the farmers were under a misapprehension; Thailand had imported 195,303 tonnes of coconuts from January to August, down 27.03% from 268,672 tonnes recorded in the same period last year.
But it was possible that some coconuts sold in the market had been smuggled into Thailand.
