Thailand Probiotics Market Forecasts from 2023 to 2028

Thailand's probiotics market is projected to witness a compound annual growth rate of 11.18%, growing to US$308.973 million by 2028 from US$147.183 million in 2021.

The rising number of elderly people in the population is one of the prominent factors anticipated to drive the probiotics demand during the forecast period. Furthermore, the rising use of probiotics for treatment among the rural population is expected to surge the probiotics demand in the coming years. Additionally, the growing tourism industry is leading to rising cases of traveler’s diarrhea which is another key factor propelling the market growth.

Rising Population

As per the data from World Bank, the population above 65 years and above in the country was 8.90% of the total population in 2010 which increased to 12.96% in 2020. The trend is projected to continue in the coming years. The increase in the elderly population is giving way to higher cases of gastrointestinal issues and a growing population with diabetes, hence is projected to have a positive impact on market growth. As per the World Bank data for Thailand, diabetes prevailed from 7.50% of the total population in 2011 to 9.70% of the total population in 2021. This growth has significantly impacted the growth in the use of probiotics among the people of Thailand.

Substantial Effort by the Market Players

Some of the major players in Thailand providing probiotics are Yakult (Thailand) Co., Ltd., CP-Meiji Co., Ltd., and Foremost Group Thailand, among others. Yakult (Thailand) provides a variety of probiotic products in Thailand, such as Yakult fermented milk, Yakult light-drinking yogurt, etc. After the intense waves of coronavirus, in June 2021, Yakult (Thailand) opened up online ordering to improve consumer access to its products. Along with the existing modern trade, the e-commerce channel supports direct to consumer (Yakult Lady) model where there are 3, 000 to 4, 000 Yakult Ladies on the ground. Additionally, in April 2023, the bacterial strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9TM has been approved by the Thai FDA for Probi. This gives Probi the chance to introduce the Probi Defendum® and Probi Osteo® ideas to the sizable Thai market.

Widespread Prevalence of Digestive Issues

The Thai probiotics market is expected to surge in the coming years due to the surge in the prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders in the country. The Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine states that the majority of the rural areas in Thailand lack proper sanitation and awareness about disease prevention, which has led to the widespread prevalence of digestive problems. Furthermore, the traditionally used treatment of digestive disorders through medicinal plants is increasingly being replaced by probiotics, which is further expected to supplement the market growth. Moreover, Thailand's Ministry of Public Health states that digestive system disorders are the third highest cause of morbidity among Thai people.

Increasing Tourism in the Nation

The growing tourism sector in the country is leading to a large number of tourists visiting the country. This is leading to rising cases of traveler's diarrhea which is a common health problem among visitors from developed to developing countries. As per the data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in Thailand, the number of foreign tourists traveling to Thailand was 7, 68, 970 in 2022. This number is projected to further increased in 2023 which is anticipated to have a positive impact on the Thailand probiotics market during the forecast period.

Government Effort

The market in Thailand increasingly focuses on traditional probiotic foods and beverage sources for their nutrients. It includes tempeh, kombucha, microalgae, etc leaving room for industrial products to enter the market. Yakult, solid probiotic yogurt, lacto-fermented fruits and vegetables, kefir, and pickles are some of the foods and beverages available in the Thai market. International products from Dutch Mill, Epigamia, Stonyfield, and Nestle are imported into the markets. New-aged vegan products from Only, Meiji, and Lifeway’s Kefir Cup are also seen in the markets. But the market has untapped potential as the demand for such products is high. Thai government's countermeasures such as travel restrictions, curfew time limit, and the closure of venues considered high-risk areas including retail shopping to curb the spread of the virus disease have impacted food industries severely. Though, food sales through convenience stores, supermarkets, supercenters, and their online platforms saw mild growth which helped the situation marginally.

Increasing Research Programs

In August 2021, to improve the quality of Thai food products and decrease probiotic imports, the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR) created and enhanced the production of 15 strains of probiotics in August 2021. TISTR chose 15 probiotics for development and manufacturing under the Thailand 4.0 program, which focuses on a shift to technical advancements and high-quality services, from a diversity of 10, 000 types of microorganisms in Thailand. Furthermore, in April 2023, Researchers from Mariano Marcos State University's Indigenous Food Research Consortium (IFRC) took part in a two-week training course offered by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand to advance R&D on probiotics, prebiotics, and functional food items.

Increasing Demand for Animal Probiotics

The increasing pet population in the country is also one of the reasons for increasing the demand for animal probiotics in the market. The number of pet animals in 2016 was 16.5 million as per the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), which increased to 18.5 million in the year 2021. The animal grew with a CAGR of 2.3% during that period. Moreover, the increased product launches in the market are propelling the market growth for the Thai animal probiotics market. For instance, in, June 2021 Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL (CP Foods) launched innovative animal probiotics for good animal health in the market. The product aims at improving animal health and helps to increase hormones and antibiotics in animals.

Key Market Developments

• In May 2023, a probiotic powdered drink was introduced by Fonterra in Singapore, and the company plans to expand distribution to Thailand's growing middle-class population.
• In February 2022, to treat patients with health problems that are unclear and those who have microbial imbalances or dysbiosis, MED-CU developed a Personalised Probiotics (Dispensing) Machine that can produce living microorganisms that offer health advantages.
• in March 2022, for the first time in the history of the business, Ildong Bioscience exported probiotics to Thailand. The Korean business shipped the first batch of 600, 000 probiotics after agreeing to supply them to Milott Laboratories in Thailand.
• In April 2023, B Fit, Smile, Immu, and Balance, the latest probiotic products from Nature+ were made available in Thailand. Smile Probiotics is one of the intriguing products since it contains probiotics that aid in boosting the number of healthy bacteria in the mouth. The nutritional supplement aids in reducing foul breath.

Segmentation:

By Application

• Functional Food and Beverages
• Dietary Supplements
• Cosmetics and Skincare
• Animal Feed

By End-User

• Human Probiotics
• Animal Probiotics

By Ingredients

• Bacteria
• Yeast

By Function

• Regular
• Preventative Healthcare
• Therapeutic

By Type

• Lactobacillus
• Streptococcus
• Bifidobacterium
• Spore Formers
• Others