Thailand is the world’s thirteenth-largest exporter of agricultural products and food, with a
market share of 2.2 percent of world food exports (figure 1.1). It is the largest exporter of
rice, rubber, cassava, shrimp, and canned tuna. It is also one of the major exporters of sugar,
canned pineapple, chicken, fruits and vegetables, and animal feeds. Between 1988 and 2010,
the annual growth rates of agricultural and food exports were impressive, averaging 10.5
percent, and 12.2 percent, respectively. There is no doubt that this high export growth is due
to Thailand’s huge comparative advantage in agriculture. There are also other important
factors on the demand and supply sides that affect export growth. This paper will emphasize
one of the most important supply side factors—technology—because it is the most significant
source of long-term growth in output, which does not only contribute to export growth but
also to the low cost of living