Finding Suppliers in Thailand Beyond the Bangkok Markets: Trade Fairs, Thaitrade.com and Company Checks

When does a buyer need more than the Bangkok wholesale markets?

The markets in Bangkok are no longer enough for repeat bulk orders, products made to order and goods the stalls don't stock. DITP (Department of International Trade Promotion) assists international buyers with product information, business matching, visits to trade fairs.

A market stall has its own inventory, a factory or brand owner works on quotations instead. On Thaitrade.com the B2B side is for overseas companies buying in bulk: large lot orders or long term contracts, quotation before the order. In 2025 Thailand exported US$7,899.66M to the Philippines, on Ministry of Commerce data. Among them: cosmetics, soap and skin care products US$292.71M; motorcycles & parts US$137.27M.

Guide: Bangkok wholesale markets for resellers

What is Thaitrade.com, and how does an overseas buyer use it?

Thaitrade.com is Thailand's official B2B marketplace, set up in 2011 by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP). A buyer registers with a company registration certificate and sends a quotation request through the "Ask for Price" button, or buys smaller quantities on the retail side, priced in USD.

Thaitrade.com is an official Thailand B2B E-Marketplace established in 2011 by Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce (MOC) Thailand.

Source: About Thaitrade.com, Department of International Trade Promotion, thaitrade.com.

In 2023 Thaitrade.com had 246,285 members: 26,789 sellers, 219,496 buyers. A buyer can post a Buying Request and sellers send quotations, or ask for business matching. A seller profile shows company name, number of products, status e.g. DITP Member.

Thaitrade's check is narrow. A seller must be a limited company or limited partnership. Plus one condition: DITP membership, quality certificate, or 1 year registration and at least 1 million baht capital. Goods must be made in Thailand or be a Thai brand. A seller can be a trader or a brand owner, not necessarily the factory.

Which Thai trade fairs can an overseas buyer visit in 2027?

The Department of International Trade Promotion has announced 3 fairs for early 2027. Gems & jewelry 23-27 Feb. Food and drink 25-29 May. Hospitality equipment 2-5 Mar. Auto parts no date yet.

Sources: thaitradefair.com and ditp.go.th, Department of International Trade Promotion; THAIFEX - Anuga Asia; THAIFEX - HOREC Asia; Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair; STYLE Bangkok; Thailand Auto Parts & Accessories.

THAIFEX - Anuga Asia is primarily a trade-only exhibition.

Source: THAIFEX - Anuga Asia visitor FAQ, organised by DITP, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Koelnmesse, thaifex-anuga.com.

Between fairs there is an online exporters directory at thaitradefair.com with 8,987 companies on 12 October 2026. Food has 1,533, textiles, garments and fashion accessories 895, agricultural products 717, auto parts 509. Dates may change, so check the fair's own page before booking flights.

How do you check that a Thai company is real before paying?

Check DBD DataWarehouse+ (type datawarehouse.dbd.go.th in the browser), which is a free registry of the Department of Business Development. This will confirm the company is registered and show status, capital, financial statements. DBD says the data confirms registration only.

Sources: Department of Business Development; Department of Industrial Works; Thaitrade.com buyer manual, DITP.

DataWarehouse+ is open to all users 24/7. DBD 2022 Annual Report: More than 1.7 million juristic persons are registered. The website is in Thai. DBD warns on its homepage: Fake copies of its site are used in scams. Never follow a link from a message. DITP also warns against impostors selling fake trade fair and business matching packages. The official channels are ditp.go.th and thaitrade.com.

What do OTOP stars, the T Mark and Thai certificates tell a buyer?

They grade a product, not a supplier's capacity. OTOP stars are given by the Ministry of Interior. In the 2019 round, 5 stars meant 90 to 100 points, standard quality or export potential. The Thailand Trust Mark is DITP's quality symbol for products made in Thailand.

Thailand Trust Mark is a symbol of excellence and trusted quality that was established to add distinctive value to Thai products and services that are made in Thailand.

Source: Thailand Trust Mark, Department of International Trade Promotion, thailandtrustmark.com.

OTOP volume is the catch for an importer. In the last published producer registry, 9,215 of 186,356 registered OTOP products, 4.9 percent, were in group A: high quality, made in volume, ready for long-term export. A star is a grading of the product, not a promise of capacity.

The buyer is the one who asks for the certificates. The Thai exporter applies for them. Thai FDA issues a Certificate of Manufacturer, Certificate of Free Sale, Certificate of Ingredient for food exporters, in 4 working days at 500 THB a set on its November 2023 page. Among the certifications a Thai brand can show on Thaitrade are ISO, FDA, GMP, Halal, GAP, HACCP and TQA.

What paperwork does the Thai supplier handle when it exports?

The exporter in Thailand presents the goods to Thai Customs. They issue the invoice. If required they get an export license. If needed they apply for a Certificate of Origin at the Department of Foreign Trade. The buyer asks to see the invoice and Certificate of Origin before paying.

Guides: importing from Thailand, customs declaration and commercial invoice from Thailand

How Dragon Courier ships an order from a Thai supplier

We send only by air, door to door, clear customs ourselves. For the main markets duty and tax are inside the price. Pickup in Bangkok and Pattaya, for a date and time that suits.

We have two offices in Thailand, please deliver to either our Bangkok office on Sukhumvit Soi 4 or our Chiang Mai office on Viangbua Road until 5pm Monday to Saturday. For buyers at several stalls, each stall delivers to one point and we do a single collection. No minimum or maximum on the number of packages. We don’t offer sea freight or send via container or pallet. For shipments over 30kg per box please contact our office first.

We need contents of package, receivers name, address and contact number. Payment via cash or bank transfer before export. Any invoice you require can be provided. One price for all customer policy, one box or every week. We don’t offer volume discounts. Contact our team for a copy of our price list. Please contact our team for full details.

Guides: wholesale plant orders from Thailand, wholesale clothing from Thailand to the USA, shipping from Pratunam to the Philippines and the UAE

About Dragon Courier

Dragon Courier is a family owned Bangkok courier with over 30 years experience in Thailand. We send more than 20,000 shipments a month to over 200 destinations, only by air, and clear customs ourselves. For the main markets we offer duty and tax inside the price.

Contacts and drop-off

We need the weight and dimensions of the carton to give an accurate price. Please contact Justin on LINE or WhatsApp +66 6-5937-0812. Email: info@dragoncourier.com.

Drop-off is until 5pm Monday to Saturday, and for a pickup please provide a date and time that suits. We are located on Sukhumvit Soi 4 (217/3 Crystal Garden Building, 3rd floor, Klongtoey 10110).

Book a pickup