Thailand
Structural Reality
What Shapes Thailand Coffee
Thailand’s structural reality
National output dominated by Robusta in the south (not specialty-relevant).
Arabica specialty is concentrated almost entirely in the northern mountains.
Farms are very small, often managed by hill-tribe communities.
Processing, quality control, and export are almost always company- or NGO-led.
Region matters because it predicts altitude, drying feasibility, and program maturity.
Growing Regions
10 Regions
Chiang Rai (Doi Chang, Doi Tung, Mae Suai)
Thailand’s specialty core
Chiang Mai (Mae Taeng, Omkoi, Mae Chaem)
higher risk, higher variance
Nan / Phayao (eastern north)
emerging, fragile
Tak / Mae Hong Son (western border)
tiny volumes, logistics penalty