Adaptation of the Thai Rubber Industry under the EUDR

Abstract

The Thai natural rubber industry faces a critical transition under emerging global sustainability standards, notably the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Using a documentary research methodology and citation analysis of secondary data, this article aims to: 1) evaluate the EUDR’s impact on the Thai rubber supply chain; 2) analyze structural vulnerabilities among smallholder farmers; and 3) propose a policy framework for sustainable adaptation.

Findings indicate that despite Thailand’s strategic advantage as a designated low-risk country, stringent traceability and geolocation requirements create high compliance costs that threaten to marginalize and exclude smallholders from global markets. To prevent such inequity, the author proposes a tripartite policy framework integrating sustainable plantation practices with international standards. This model relies on three actionable measures: (1) unlocking land tenure rights and integrating public GIS databases to minimize traceability costs; (2) enforcing premium pricing mechanisms to fairly compensate farmers; and (3) advancing group certification through farmer cooperatives. Ultimately, this collaborative approach aims to transition the Thai rubber industry from basic commodity trading toward delivering High-Value Sustainable Products. (OpenAI, 2026)