LAMPANG — There has been widely discussion online following Mr. Preecha Srimala, President of the Lampang Pottery Association, recently stated that the situation for Lampang ceramic manufacturers is worse than ever before due to Chinese products being delivered to customers at very low prices.
The main issue stems from online orders of This has caused over 200 of the more than 300 medium and small ceramic factories to shut down.
On August 15, Adhipoom Kamthornvorarin, Honorary Chairman of Lampang Chamber of Commerce, shared a clip showing the production of Chinese rice bowls using machine. The video demonstrated how this production method differs from the Thai production style. He noted that this type of production has been in use for a long time.
He also posted his comment on the discussions about Lampang ceramics being severely affected by Chinese dumping, as Chinese-made Hahn brand bowls are being sold for 5 baht each. He pointed out that there are several inaccuracies in these details and provided the following clarifications on Lampang ceramics, especially Hahn brand bowls, and the current problems:
1. The original design of the rooster did not originate in Lampang, but was brought from China by Chinese immigrants who settled in Lampang. They started making these bowls in Lampang because of the availability of kaolin, a clay that enabled ceramic production similar to that in China.
2. Traditionally, both the Chinese and Lampang Hahn bowls were hand-painted. Nowadays, however, Chinese manufacturers use ceramic decals instead of hand painting, resulting in identical Hahn motifs on each bowl. In contrast, the Lampang Hahn brand bowls are still hand-painted, making each bowl unique.
3. The idea that Chinese bowls with rooster motifs are sold for 5 baht is a misconception. The bowls sold for 5 baht are often defective pieces that are sold cheaply and have no special design. If the defects are minimal, the price is higher. Advertising 5 baht bowls is primarily a tactic to attract customers, not a serious selling price.
4. I have been involved with Lampang ceramics for almost 30 years and have observed the constant changes and problems. The more Lampang pottery is sold, the cheaper it becomes and the poorer the quality. There are two main reasons for this: raw material and production costs in Thailand cannot compete with those in China and the Lampang producers compete with each other, both in terms of pricing and cost reduction, despite the high production costs in Thailand.
5. There are concerns that some Chinese products may contain harmful substances due to the use of low temperature decals, but this does not apply to all items and requires product testing.
6. From January to May 2024, over 3,000 tons of ceramics were imported from China at an average price of 8.96 baht per kilogram (see table opposite). Note: The quoted price of 8.96 baht per kilogram is the import price, but the actual price is likely to be higher.
7. “What comes by road cannot compete with what comes over the mountains and forests.” This means that more Chinese ceramics are imported than is officially recorded. It is estimated that actual imports could be 2-3 times higher than declared, suggesting that Chinese ceramics are flooding the market and providing stiff competition to domestic producers.
However, he advised that Thai producers need to create products with specific characteristics and fill niche markets in China.
He suggested that it would be impossible to penetrate the Chinese market with mass-produced items. However, if Lampang ceramics were to participate in the “Jingdezhen Ceramic Fair,” in Jiangxi, China, it could be possible, but the products would need to be truly distinct from the common offerings. They should have special features that are very difficult to imitate, such as unique Thai characteristics or designs related to Thai culture.
“We need to find gaps between the elephant’s footprints,” he said. “We won’t get stepped on because these are tiny spaces that we can fit into. In fact, some Lampang ceramic factories, like Wuttichai Ceramic, have the potential to develop into a soft power for Thailand. I really would like people to see the products from this factory.”
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Lampang Ceramics Crisis: Chinese Online Dumping Threatens Local Makers
