DITP tracks export risks after reported freezer hacks at about 700 French sites
Frozen seafood and processed chicken exports from Thailand face possible disruption in Europe, although no Thai orders have been reported cancelled.
- Thailand's Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) is assessing risks to food exports after cyberattacks affected about 700 supermarket sites in France and other European countries.
- The attacks involved hackers remotely switching freezers to defrost mode, spoiling food and creating disruption risks for temperature-sensitive Thai exports like frozen seafood, chicken, and fresh produce.
- While no orders have been cancelled, DITP is advising Thai exporters to prepare for potential replacement orders once refrigeration is restored and to strengthen their own cold-chain cybersecurity.
Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) has instructed its European offices to assess the risks to Thai food orders and deliveries following reported cyberattacks on supermarket refrigeration systems. Information cited by the department as of November 5, 2026, indicated that about 700 locations in France had been affected.
Warawut Somwangprasert, director-general of DITP under the Commerce Ministry, said European trade offices were coordinating with importers and Thai businesses to evaluate the consequences. He confirmed that the offices had received no reports of Thai orders being cancelled because of the incidents.
Thai frozen seafood and chicken exports face disruption risks
Frozen seafood and processed frozen chicken could be particularly exposed to disruption, according to DITP, because both depend on temperature-controlled storage and distribution. Problems with supermarket freezers at the destination could slow orders to replenish stocks.
DITP also identified risks for chilled food, fresh vegetables and fruit, which have limited shelf lives. Buyers could postpone deliveries or cancel orders if retail space and refrigeration systems were not ready to receive the products.
Canned prepared food and dried products were expected to face less disruption because they do not need refrigeration, DITP assessed. These products could gain additional sales opportunities as supermarkets change how they allocate storage and display space.
DITP describes attacks that switched freezers to defrost mode
Hackers accessed remote controls connected through the Internet of Things, switched supermarket freezers to defrost mode and raised temperatures to as high as 50°C, according to DITP’s account. Fresh and frozen food was damaged as a result.
Beyond France, DITP listed incidents in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Finland, Estonia, Romania and Luxembourg.
Warawut said the incidents differed from conventional ransomware attacks because no payment had been demanded to restore access to the systems. Assessments cited by DITP suggested that the objective could be to disrupt food supply chains and inflict economic losses.
DITP indicated that the disruption could affect supermarket operations, distribution and the acceptance of deliveries from trading partners, including Thailand.
DITP advises exporters to prepare for possible replacement orders
Thai food exporters should prepare for potential demand to replace spoiled stock once European supermarkets restore their refrigeration systems, Warawut advised.
“Thai exporters should closely monitor developments and prepare their production capacity, raw materials and transport arrangements,” Warawut said.
“Once supermarkets restore their systems and resume normal operations, they may place new orders for frozen food to replace damaged products and replenish stocks,” he added.
DITP also recommended stronger cybersecurity for cold-chain management. Businesses should use temperature-monitoring equipment, including Internet of Things sensors and data loggers, with high security standards and maintain systematic temperature records throughout transport.
Transport insurance covering losses caused by cyberattacks was another option DITP advised exporters to consider, helping build confidence among European importers and trading partners.
DITP said it would continue monitoring the situation and supporting Thai businesses to protect the export market and develop opportunities for sustainable trade growth. Businesses can obtain further information through its 1169 hotline and website, and explore international trading opportunities through the ThaiTrade platform.
The European Union is Thailand’s fourth-largest export market after the United States, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China, according to DITP. Thai exports to the bloc totalled US$24.127 billion in January–September 2026, an increase of 23.4%. Major food exports included processed chicken, processed seafood, frozen fruit, canned fruit and other processed fruit products.
