Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried (Mature Seeds, Shelled)
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Kidney bean (red kidney bean/"ถั่วแดงหลวง") in Thailand is a niche domestically grown highland legume with additional supply coming from imports. Domestic cultivation has been promoted in northern highland areas (e.g., Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan, Mae Hong Son) with defined planting windows that create multiple harvest periods across the year. Trade data for HS 071333 indicates Thailand imports dried kidney beans, with China as the dominant supplier in the latest available WITS/Comtrade snapshot. Market access and continuity of supply are strongly shaped by Thailand’s plant quarantine controls for plant products and Thailand FDA requirements for food importers.
Market RoleNet importer with niche domestic highland production
Domestic RoleNiche highland cash crop and domestic ingredient/retail dry bean product; imports used to supplement availability and assortment
SeasonalityIn Thailand’s northern highland production context, red kidney bean (ถั่วแดงหลวง) can be planted in multiple windows, producing three main harvest periods across the year.
Specification
Primary Varietyถั่วแดงหลวง (Red kidney bean; Phaseolus vulgaris)
Secondary Variety- หมอกจ๋าม (Mok Cham)
- MKS#8
- White kidney bean / cannellini (import assortment; HS 071333 includes white pea beans)
Physical Attributes- Kidney-shaped mature seeds; commonly traded as dry shelled beans
- Color segmentation in trade includes red kidney beans and white kidney beans (white pea beans)
Compositional Metrics- Buyer specifications commonly include maximum moisture and limits on impurities/broken seeds; confirm thresholds per buyer/importer program.
Grades- Commercial grading is typically specification-based (e.g., moisture, foreign matter, broken/defective seed tolerances) rather than a single universal national grade.
Packaging- Bulk dry bean packaging for trade commonly uses sacks/bags (e.g., 25 kg class) for warehouses and repackers; retail packaging is typically smaller bags for supermarkets and online channels.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Domestic (highland): farm production → village/collector aggregation → cleaning/grading/drying → bagging → wholesalers/ingredient users/retail
- Import: overseas supplier packing → sea freight to Thailand → plant quarantine inspection (DOA) + customs clearance → warehouses → local distribution/repacking
Temperature- As a dry commodity, moisture control and clean storage (to limit mold and insect infestation) is typically more critical than cold-chain temperature control.
Shelf Life- Shelf-life is driven by dryness, insect control, and storage hygiene; infestation or elevated moisture can cause rapid quality loss and border/warehouse rejection risk.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Phytosanitary Compliance HighThailand’s plant quarantine controls can block or severely delay kidney bean consignments if required permissions/import permits and phytosanitary certification are missing, or if inspection finds quarantine pests/contamination; outcomes may include mandatory treatment, rejection, re-export, or destruction depending on findings and commodity status.Pre-check the commodity’s status and required steps in DOA plant quarantine systems; secure any required prior permissions/import permits, ensure the original phytosanitary certificate includes any required additional declarations, and implement pre-shipment cleaning/insect-control measures with documented evidence.
Regulatory Compliance MediumFor food sold in Thailand, failure to align with Thai FDA importer licensing and any applicable product permission/labeling requirements can lead to clearance holds and rework costs.Confirm whether the product is treated as general food vs. a category requiring additional product permission/serial number; ensure the Thai FDA import license is active and all labeling/documentation is prepared before shipment arrival.
Logistics MediumOcean freight volatility and port-side delays can raise landed cost and disrupt availability for this niche dry-legume line, especially for smaller consignments and time-sensitive retail programs.Use forward bookings for peak periods, maintain buffer inventory for key SKUs, and align contract terms (e.g., CIF vs. FOB) with the party best positioned to manage freight risk.
Sustainability- Highland agronomy and soil stewardship: red kidney bean has been promoted in northern highland systems as part of crop diversification and rotation to support soil fertility and reduce pest/disease build-up (Royal Project/HRDI context).
- Water availability sensitivity for winter cropping in applicable sites: dry-season planting may require irrigation access (river/well) in suitable areas.
Labor & Social- Smallholder/highland community livelihoods: the crop has documented association with alternative-livelihood promotion in northern highland areas (Royal Project/HRDI context).
- No widely documented product-specific labor controversy analogous to well-known commodity scandals (e.g., monkey-labor coconut) was identified for Thai kidney beans in the referenced sources.
FAQ
Is Thailand mainly an importer or producer of dried kidney beans?Thailand is an importing market for dried kidney beans under HS 071333, while domestic production exists as a niche highland crop. WITS/Comtrade shows Thailand imported about USD 600.55k and 448,836 kg in 2023, with China as the dominant supplier.
When are the main harvest periods for Thailand’s highland red kidney bean (ถั่วแดงหลวง) production?In the HRDI highland production context, harvest periods are commonly described in three windows: July–August (from early rainy-season planting), November–December (from late rainy-season planting), and February–March (from winter planting that may require irrigation in suitable sites).
What Thailand-side permissions are commonly relevant when importing kidney beans for sale?For food for sale, Thai FDA states the importer must obtain a food import license under the Food Act, with additional product permission/serial number depending on food category and labeling requirements. Separately, Thailand’s DOA plant quarantine controls can require prior permission/import permit, phytosanitary certification, and inspection for plant/plant-product consignments.