Halal Economy and OIC ExportGold report

Published May 2026Insight Research25 min read2026 Edition20 sources, 20 primary-gradeVery high source depth

Thailand Halal Economy and OIC Market Access 2027 Market Intelligence

Thai halal exports to OIC markets USD 7.3-8.85B in 2024; 4-year National Halal plan targets ASEAN hub by 2027 via Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat corridor, Halal Valley, Saudi Vision 2030 alignment, JAKIM, BPJPH, GSO market access.

Key takeaways

1
Thai halal-certified food exports to OIC markets reached in 2024 (DITP, + YoY); broader halal economy tally (~ of T global halal market). Thailand ranks 10th supplier to OIC.
2
CICOT (Central Islamic Council of Thailand) is the sole Thai halal certifying authority under the Islamic Organisation Administration Act B.E. 2540 (1997). HSIT sets THS standards; HSC-CU runs DNA-PCR, pork-contamination screening. Recognised by JAKIM (Malaysia), GSO (GCC), SMIIC (OIC), SFDA (Saudi).
3
Cabinet established the National Halal Industry Committee in early 2024 with a 4-year plan targeting ASEAN halal hub status by 2027 — GDP contribution, 100,000 jobs, industrial GDP expansion; anchored on the Halal Economic Corridor across Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Satun, four Songkhla districts and a Halal Valley.
4
Saudi Vision 2030 food security is the structural demand driver: Kingdom imports ~ of food, targets domestic self-sufficiency up from to by 2030 in priority categories. SFDA recognises CICOT, enabling direct Thai halal access without local re-certification.
5
Indonesia BPJPH mandatory halal certification took effect 18 October 2024 for food and beverage; expansion to cosmetics, pharma, chemicals phased 2026-2029. CICOT-BPJPH reciprocity partially recognised but full equivalence ongoing — Thai exporters face SKU-level registration friction in Indonesia.
6
Cross-economy adjacencies: halal cosmetics (global by 2028 at CAGR), halal pharma, halal tourism (Thailand GMTI 5th non-OIC, 3,500+ certified restaurants) extend beyond food. Our read: 2027 thesis is GCC corridor maturation, BPJPH navigation, and Pattani estate restoration.

Executive summary

Thailand's halal economy reached an inflection point in 2024. Halal-certified food exports to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) markets climbed to (Department of International Trade Promotion data via Nation Thailand), growing year-on-year against an OIC import base that itself grew to . Industry tallies including broader halal goods report Thai halal exports at , roughly of the T global halal market. Thailand ranks as the 10th-largest food supplier to OIC markets, sitting alongside Brazil, India, Australia as a top non-Muslim halal producer, with structural advantages in poultry processing, tuna canning, and tropical food value-add.^{[, , ]}

Institutional anchor: the Central Islamic Council of Thailand (CICOT) is the sole Thai halal certifying authority under the Islamic Organisation Administration Act B.E. 2540 (1997). CICOT issues the Thai halal mark with cross-recognition from JAKIM (Malaysia), GSO (GCC), SMIIC (OIC), and SFDA (Saudi Arabia). The Halal Standards Institute of Thailand (HSIT) publishes the THS (Thailand Halal Standard) series aligned to MS 1500 (Malaysia) and GSO 2055 (GCC). The Halal Science Center at Chulalongkorn University (HSC-CU) runs species-specific DNA-PCR testing, pork-DNA detection, alcohol and gelatine screening, and operates the Halal Route app for Muslim-friendly travel and forensic services used in export disputes.^{[, , ]}

Policy thesis is sharper post-2024. The Cabinet established the National Halal Industry Committee in early 2024 with a 4-year plan (2024-2027) targeting ASEAN halal hub status by 2027 — GDP contribution, 100,000 jobs annually, industrial GDP expansion. The plan anchors on a southern Halal Economic Corridor (HEC) covering Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Satun and four Songkhla districts (Na Thawi, Saba Yoi, Chana, Thepa), supported by a Thailand Halal Valley industrial development and restoration of the long-dormant Halal Industrial Estate Pattani. The 2027 thesis sits on three legs: Saudi Vision 2030 food security demand (Kingdom imports of food, targets self-sufficiency up to ), GCC corridor maturation via the October 2023 ASEAN-GCC Summit framework, and successful navigation of the Indonesia BPJPH mandatory halal regime effective 18 October 2024.^{[, , , ]}

DITP, CICOT, HSIT, HSC-CU, Cabinet, BPJPH, Saudi Vision 2030, GSO

Data as of: FY2024

Thai halal exports to OIC market trend (USD billion, 2020-2024)

2020

USD B

5.6

YoY %

n/a

Context

COVID trough; GCC contract delays

2021

USD B

5.9

YoY %

+5.4%

Context

Halal poultry recovery; tuna stable

2022

USD B

6.3

YoY %

+6.8%

Context

Post-COVID; Saudi-Thailand reset signals

2023

USD B

6.7

YoY %

+6.3%

Context

ASEAN-GCC Summit Riyadh Oct 2023

2024

USD B

7.31

YoY %

+6.3%

Context

DITP confirmed; 10th OIC supplier

Year	USD B	YoY %	Context
2020	5.6	n/a	COVID trough; GCC contract delays
2021	5.9	+5.4%	Halal poultry recovery; tuna stable
2022	6.3	+6.8%	Post-COVID; Saudi-Thailand reset signals
2023	6.7	+6.3%	ASEAN-GCC Summit Riyadh Oct 2023
2024	7.31	+6.3%	DITP confirmed; 10th OIC supplier

DITP, Nation Thailand, KRC analysis

Data as of: 2024 full-year

Halal economy sub-economy mix (% of FY2024 halal-economy value)

Halal food and beverage (OIC export)

Share %

78%

Notes

Poultry, seafood, processed, RTE, rice, beverage

Halal tourism and hospitality

Share %

Notes

GMTI 5th non-OIC; 3,500 certified restaurants

Halal cosmetics and personal care

Share %

Notes

Cross-link to Cosmetics report; B2B OEM

Halal pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals

Share %

Notes

Halal supplement, OTC; BPJPH expansion 2026

Halal logistics, finance, services

Share %

Notes

Halal cold chain, finance, ports support

Sub-economy	Share %	Notes
Halal food and beverage (OIC export)	78%	Poultry, seafood, processed, RTE, rice, beverage
Halal tourism and hospitality	8%	GMTI 5th non-OIC; 3,500 certified restaurants
Halal cosmetics and personal care	6%	Cross-link to Cosmetics report; B2B OEM
Halal pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals	4%	Halal supplement, OTC; BPJPH expansion 2026
Halal logistics, finance, services	4%	Halal cold chain, finance, ports support

DITP, HSIT, CrescentRating, sub-sector tallies

Data as of: FY2024

OIC destination mix (% of FY2024 Thai halal food export)

GCC (Saudi, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman)

Share %

38%

Dynamics

Premium per-capita spend, government food security contracts, SFDA-recognised CICOT

Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei

Share %

26%

Dynamics

ASEAN, RCEP; BPJPH mandatory Oct 2024 friction

Iran and other Middle East

Share %

13%

Dynamics

Iran, Levant, Gulf neighbours

Egypt, North Africa, Turkey

Share %

12%

Dynamics

Africa flows, Türkiye foodservice

Non-OIC Muslim niche (USA, EU, Australia, Japan)

Share %

11%

Dynamics

Muslim-consumer retail, Thai Union global brands

Destination	Share %	Dynamics
GCC (Saudi, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman)	38%	Premium per-capita spend, government food security contracts, SFDA-recognised CICOT
Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei	26%	ASEAN, RCEP; BPJPH mandatory Oct 2024 friction
Iran and other Middle East	13%	Iran, Levant, Gulf neighbours
Egypt, North Africa, Turkey	12%	Africa flows, Türkiye foodservice
Non-OIC Muslim niche (USA, EU, Australia, Japan)	11%	Muslim-consumer retail, Thai Union global brands

DITP, CICOT, importer registries

Data as of: FY2024

Analyst framing

Why this report

Halal is not just food — Thailand's 2024-2027 plan covers cosmetics, pharma, tourism, logistics, finance services. CICOT certification is gatekeeping infrastructure; GSO recognition, JAKIM MRA, BPJPH navigation define market access. The 2027 ASEAN hub target is realistic if Pattani estate revives, BPJPH reciprocity firms, and Saudi Vision 2030 offtake materialises.

Operator playbooks

Charoen Pokphand Foods (SET: CPF): the dominant Thai halal-certified poultry, processed exporter with vertically integrated feed, farm, slaughter, processing, branded, export. CICOT certification across processing facilities; global customer base spanning GCC, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, EU. CPF's marinated, cooked, RTE value-added captures higher margin than raw exports and absorbs BPJPH compliance cost better than smaller exporters. CPF is the structural beneficiary of Saudi Vision 2030 food security tenders.

Thai Union Group (SET: TU): global halal tuna and seafood via Chicken of the Sea (USA), John West (UK), Mareblu (Europe), Petit Navire (France), Sealect brands. CICOT certification across Thai canneries; SFDA recognition unlocks Saudi tinned-tuna procurement. Thai Union's brand portfolio differentiates it from commodity tuna canners — pricing power in Muslim-consumer niche retail in non-OIC markets (USA, EU) is the structural moat.

GFPT (SET: GFPT): listed integrated halal poultry specialist; halal chicken and processed export focused on Japan, EU, GCC. Smaller scale than CPF but higher operating margin on premium value-added cuts. Betagro (SET: BTG): integrated halal poultry, feed; CLMV expansion adjacent; BPJPH-compliant for Indonesia access. Asian Sea Corporation (SET: ASIAN): halal-certified surimi, canned tuna, frozen seafood processor; SET-listed but smaller; surimi-based products go to GCC and Japan.

Long-tail exporters and Pattani-based operators: 200-plus smaller halal-certified food processors fill the long tail. Halal Industrial Estate Pattani (IEAT-designated) was originally launched as a dedicated halal manufacturing zone leveraging the majority-Muslim southern workforce and proximity to Malaysia and Singapore logistics — but it fell into disuse and is now slated for restoration under the Thailand Halal Valley plan. Restoration timing and infrastructure depth will determine whether mid-tier exporters can locate halal-dedicated lines economically.

Certification regulatory mechanics

CICOT process: facility audit, ingredient review, slaughter oversight (Muslim slaughterer certification), cross-contamination control, annual renewal. CICOT certification fees and audit cadence are set under the Islamic Organisation Administration Act B.E. 2540 (1997). Cross-recognition with JAKIM (Malaysia), GSO 2055 (GCC), SMIIC OIC/SMIIC 1, 2, 3 standards, and SFDA (Saudi) recognition means a CICOT-certified Thai exporter can reach most OIC markets without per-country re-certification. The Halal Standards Institute of Thailand (HSIT) publishes the THS (Thailand Halal Standard) series providing technical alignment to MS 1500 and GSO 2055.

BPJPH friction: Indonesia's Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal became mandatory for food and beverage on 18 October 2024 after the phasing period ended. Under Government Regulation 42/2024, BPJPH-issued halal certificates have permanent validity provided no change to material composition or process. Expansion of the mandatory scope to drugs, cosmetics, chemicals, biologics is phased 2026-2029. CICOT-BPJPH bilateral reciprocity is partially recognised but full equivalence is still being worked out — Thai exporters face SKU-level registration of foreign halal certificates with BPJPH for Indonesia entry, raising compliance cost. USDA FAS analyses the foreign-cert registration requirements for context.

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