Thailand expects surge in crocodile meat exports to Europe

"We got our first-ever order for one ton of crocodile meat from Germany earlier this month," said Kamthorn Termsiripong, marketing manager of Sriracha Farm - Thailand's largest crocodile farm and exporter of crocodile products.

While Europe has been a good market for crocodile skins in the past, the farm has never before received an order for crocodile meat, for which China is traditionally the main market.

There are 12 registered crocodile farms in Thailand, raising an estimated 170,000 of the giant reptiles for their skins, meat and internal organs.

Sriracha Farm, which exported about 10,000 animals last year, said each crocodile fetched about 5,000 to 6,000 baht (116-140 dollars) on the export market.

Kamthorn predicted that with the sudden surge in import orders from Europe, Thailand's crocodile exports could earn the country 100 million baht (2.3 million dollars) this year.

"From our own farm we expect to export at least 50 tons of crocodile meat to Europe during the next nine months," said Kamthorn.

Niche markets for exotic meats have grown in Europe, as the continent's cattle and pig farms have been hurt first by reported cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and more recently by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

(sda)