Nestlé's 23-billion-baht coffee factory in Samut Prakan, by numbers: what does it mean for jobs and Thai coffee growers?

Nestlé has started building a 23-billion-baht coffee factory and distribution centre at the Araya Industrial Estate in Samut Prakan, just south-east of Bangkok. Khaosod English reported the groundbreaking on 21 October 2026, three and a half months after the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) approved the project on 8 July. The plant is due to start operating in late 2028.

So what exactly is being built, how many jobs does it promise, and what could it mean for Thai coffee growers? Here is what the official figures say.

Thailand by numbers: the new NESCAFÉ plant

What will the factory make?

According to the BOI, the plant will produce NESCAFÉ soluble coffee, coffee mixes and ready-to-drink coffee, with a planned capacity of 170,000 tonnes a year. Khaosod English reports that the site will also hold a distribution centre for Nestlé products in several categories and a unit for developing new ingredients, recipes and products.

Production, storage, order picking and dispatch are designed to be linked by automation and artificial intelligence, according to Khaosod English, which also reports plans for 100 per cent renewable energy, biomass fuel, heat recovery, water recycling and zero waste to landfill.

Why the BOI backed it

• Local sourcing. The BOI says Nestlé will buy around 4.3 billion baht of local agricultural inputs and raw materials a year, including coffee beans, sugar and fresh milk.
• Farmer support. The BOI says the company will research climate-resilient coffee varieties, hand out high-quality seedlings and train farmers in sustainable growing.
• A regional hub. The BOI describes the project as making Thailand Nestlé's production and logistics base for Southeast Asia.

What could it mean for people living in Thailand?

• Skilled jobs. The BOI says the roles are for Thai engineers and technical specialists, so most openings are likely to be filled locally. Foreign specialists are not mentioned in either source.
• Thai coffee growers. Nestlé has bought Thai Robusta beans for more than 40 years, according to Khaosod English. A bigger local buyer could matter to growers, but neither source says how much of the new plant's coffee will be Thai.
• The Samut Prakan corridor. Neither source gives traffic or housing forecasts for the area around the estate, so treat claims about local property demand with caution.