What are the main sources of imported decoration materials in Thailand?

The import source countries of Thai decoration materials exhibit diversified characteristics, with significant regional concentration in different material categories, as follows:

1、 Core building materials: Industrial foundation determines supply chain pattern

Steel and metal products

China: dominates the imported steel market in Thailand, with 2024 data showing that China’s steel imports account for over 60% of the total. With cost advantages and stable supply, Chinese hot-rolled coils and galvanized sheets are widely used in building frame and steel structure projects.

Japan/South Korea: High value-added steel (such as automotive grade galvanized sheet and stainless steel pipes) mainly comes from companies such as Nippon Steel and POSCO, and is used for curtain walls and decorations in high-end commercial buildings.

Cement and concrete

China: Enters Thailand through land and sea transportation at the Yunnan border, with imports accounting for 15% of Thailand’s cement market in 2024, mainly used for large-scale infrastructure projects.

India/United States: Indian cement has a high market share in southern Thailand due to its low price; American cement mainly uses special cement (such as quick drying cement) for emergency repair projects.

Plastics and Chemical Building Materials

South Korea/Germany: LG Chem’s PVC pipes from South Korea and BASF’s waterproof coatings from Germany dominate the high-end market in Thailand, with imports reaching 320 million and 280 million baht respectively in 2024.

Netherlands/France: Environmentally friendly adhesives and sealants mainly come from European brands such as Soudal from the Netherlands and Sika from France, which comply with Thailand’s Green Building Certification Standard 1.

2、 Decorative Materials: Design and Quality Driven Import Selection

Ceramic tiles and ceramics

China: In January 2024, Thailand imported 6.9 million square meters of ceramic tiles, of which 4.6 million square meters came from China, accounting for 67%, mainly consisting of mid to high end marble tiles. Manufacturers in Foshan, Guangdong and Jinjiang, Fujian quickly distribute to the national building materials market through the port of Bangkok.

Italy/Spain: The high-end market is dominated by brands such as IMOLA and Roca, with an average import price of $4.8 per square meter in 2024, which is 2.3 times that of Chinese ceramic tiles.

India/Vietnam: With its rich variety of colors and low price strategy, Indian ceramic tiles will see a year-on-year increase of 14% in imports in 2024, mainly seizing the market of second tier cities in northern Thailand.

Natural stone

China: Granite from Laizhou, Shandong and marble from Shuitou, Fujian are transported via the China Thailand railway, with imports accounting for 28% of Thailand’s stone market in 2024, used for hotel floors and villa facades.

India/Brazil: Indian black gold granite and Brazilian agate are shipped to Bangkok Port by sea, mainly supplying high-end customized projects.

Wood and board

China: In 2022, Thailand imported 800000 cubic meters of plywood, of which 60% came from China, for customized furniture and interior partitions.

Indonesia/Malaysia: Tropical hardwoods such as teak and pineapple enter Thailand through border trade, and are processed into flooring and door and window frames by a wood processing plant in Chiang Mai.

3、 Kitchen and bathroom equipment: technical barriers divide market levels

Sanitary ware

China: Thailand’s bathroom imports amounted to 625 million Thai baht in the first four months of 2024, of which China accounted for 500 million Thai baht. The main products are ceramic toilets and shower heads, but about 95% need to be rectified to comply with Thailand’s TIS standard 67.

Germany/Italy: Hansgrohe and Duravit’s smart toilets and thermostatic showerheads dominate the high-end hotel market, with an average import price of 3000 baht per piece in 2024.

Kitchen equipment

Japan: The INAX integrated kitchen system is distributed through a Bangkok agent, with a market share expected to increase to 18% by 2024, focusing on modular design for small-sized units.

Europe: Veneta cabinets and Bosch embedded ovens were introduced through the BuildTech building materials exhibition in Thailand, mainly serving foreigners and high-end residential projects.

4、 Emerging fields: Policies and trends reshape supply chains

Smart Home System

China: Xiaomi and Huawei’s smart door locks and security systems are selling well on the Lazada platform, with imports increasing by 25% year-on-year in 2024, accounting for 35% of Thailand’s smart home market.

South Korea: Samsung’s smart home appliances (such as air conditioners and refrigerators) are sold through its flagship store in Bangkok, with a market share of 22% by 2024, mainly targeting middle and high-income households.

Environmentally friendly materials

China: Recycled plastic flooring (such as EcoPlast brand) and bamboo fiber board entered Thailand through the China Thailand Green Building Materials Cooperation Project, with an 18% increase in import value by 2024.

Europe: EGGER’s zero formaldehyde panels are distributed through HomePro supermarket for high-end custom wardrobes and children’s furniture.

5、 The impact of regional trade agreements

RCEP framework: 90% of building materials products will achieve zero tariffs, the import cost of Chinese ceramics, doors and windows profiles will be reduced by 15% -20%, and China’s building materials exports to Thailand will increase by 12% in 2024.

China Thailand Mutual Visa Exemption: The small import tax exemption policy (value ≤ 1500 Thai baht) implemented in 2025 will further reduce the procurement costs of small and medium-sized enterprises, especially benefiting decorative ornaments and sample trial orders.

Summary

The import of decoration materials in Thailand presents a pattern of “China leading the middle and low-end, Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea controlling the high-end, and ASEAN neighboring countries supplementing the characteristics”. The mid to low end market relies on China’s scale production and cost advantages, while the high-end field is dominated by design and technology from countries such as Italy and Germany. Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam seize segmented markets through their geographical advantages. With the deepening of RCEP and the promotion of green building policies, China’s core position in Thailand’s building materials supply chain will be further consolidated, while the competitiveness of European and American brands in the fields of intelligence and environmental protection will continue to strengthen.