From November 27th to 30th, 2024, the Asia (Thailand) International Hemp Expo, Asia’s largest industrial hemp exhibition, was grandly held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok. As the first industry event in Asia to legalize commercial cannabis, the expo attracted exhibitors from nearly 100 countries and regions worldwide, including the Netherlands, the United States, China, and Canada, as well as tens of thousands of professional visitors. Winshine Lighting Thailand showcased over ten innovative lighting products specifically designed for cannabis cultivation. Leveraging its 25 years of experience in LED lighting technology and localized service, the company became a focal point at the expo, attracting numerous Southeast Asian cannabis farmers for consultation and leading to numerous partnership agreements.
An Industry Event Driven by Policy Support
Since Thailand became the first country in Asia to legalize commercial and industrial hemp in June 2022, the country’s cannabis industry has experienced explosive growth, leading to a surge in demand for related cultivation technology and equipment. Although the Thai government tightened some recreational cannabis policies in 2024 for regulatory purposes, its support for the development of industrial hemp cultivation and the related industry chain has remained unchanged. Instead, market regulation has fueled a greater demand for high-quality cultivation equipment.
This exhibition, hosted by the Thai Industrial Hemp Trade Association, showcased solutions across the entire industry chain, from cultivation techniques and seed production to processing equipment. It also hosted the Second International Hemp Environmental Forum, where 20 leading scholars from around the world engaged in in-depth discussions on the sustainable development of industrial hemp. Exhibits covered cannabis cultivation technology, greenhouse systems, harvesting equipment, and subsequent processing, packaging, and logistics, making it a key indicator of the development of the Asian cannabis industry. According to organizers, cannabis farmers and agricultural cooperative representatives accounted for over 60% of the trade visitors, highlighting the industry’s urgent need for advanced cultivation technology.
Technological Innovation Illuminates the Future of Cultivation
Winshine Lighting, a professional manufacturer with 25 years of experience in LED lighting and power supply solutions, showcased over ten cannabis cultivation lamps that fully embody its “Precision Light Formula” technology. While specific technical specifications have not been fully disclosed, based on their extensive experience in the LED field, industry experts speculate that their products may utilize spectral combination technology optimized for the cannabis growth cycle. This allows them to adjust light quality, intensity, and duration according to different growth stages, significantly increasing cannabinoid content and biomass accumulation.
According to the on-site representative from Winshine Lighting Thailand, the lighting series on display has been specifically optimized for the tropical climate of Southeast Asia, offering significant advantages such as high heat dissipation efficiency, low energy consumption, and a long lifespan. “Our lamps have achieved a significant breakthrough in energy efficiency, saving over 40% compared to traditional grow lights while extending their service life to over 50,000 hours, significantly reducing farmers’ long-term operating costs.” The representative added that this feature is highly competitive in Southeast Asia, where electricity costs are high.
At the exhibition, a modular grow light with an intelligent control system attracted widespread attention. This system allows for remote monitoring and adjustment of lighting parameters via a mobile app, enabling precise cultivation management, making it particularly suitable for large-scale cannabis grow operations. Following the on-site demonstration, several local Thai farmers expressed their belief that this intelligent solution will significantly improve cultivation efficiency and reduce management complexity.
Business Opportunities Emerge to Expand Southeast Asian Markets
Thanks to the market dividends brought by Thailand’s legalization of cannabis and Winshine Lighting’s technological strength, the company’s booth has been consistently crowded since its opening, welcoming professional visitors from various Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. According to incomplete statistics, Winshine Lighting reached preliminary cooperation agreements with over 20 cannabis growers during the exhibition, with significant amounts of funds in mind.
Mr. Supaporn, a cannabis farmer from Chiang Mai, Thailand, said in an interview, “As a farmer with five hectares of cultivation, we have been looking for high-efficiency grow lights suitable for tropical climates. Winshine’s products are not only technologically advanced, but also provide localized installation and after-sales service, which gives us great confidence.” He also revealed that he has signed an initial purchase agreement with Winshine and plans to replace all of his greenhouse grow areas with the new LED grow system.
The organizer commented, “Exhibitors this year generally reported evenly distributed attendance, a high level of professionalism and expertise, and eye-catching exhibits, from individual products to integrated solutions. On-site exhibitors were able to directly receive purchase orders.” This evaluation indirectly confirms the market performance of high-quality exhibitors like Winshine Lighting.
The Bright Prospects of Green Agriculture
The global industrial hemp cultivation market is experiencing steady growth. According to research data from Hengzhou Chengsi, the global industrial hemp cultivation market size was approximately 18.44 billion yuan in 2024 and is expected to reach nearly 26.97 billion yuan by 2031, achieving a compound annual growth rate of 5.6% over the next six years. Southeast Asia, represented by Thailand, is one of the fastest-growing regions due to its open policies and cost advantages.
Winshine Lighting, leveraging its 25 years of technological expertise in LED lighting and its deep understanding of the Southeast Asian market, is actively pursuing this blue ocean market. The company has established a local team in Thailand and plans to continue developing more targeted grow lighting solutions based on regional needs. “We are optimistic about the long-term development potential of the industrial hemp cultivation market in Southeast Asia,” said Winshine Lighting’s Asia Director. “By providing efficient, energy-saving, and intelligent lighting technology, we hope to contribute to the modernization and sustainable development of agriculture in the region.”
With the successful conclusion of the 2024 Asia (Thailand) International Hemp Exhibition, Winshine Lighting was undoubtedly one of the biggest winners of the event. The company not only demonstrated the technological strength of Chinese lighting companies, but also successfully opened up a breakthrough in the Southeast Asian hemp cultivation equipment market through precise market positioning and localization strategies. Amid the global trend toward intelligent and green agricultural transformation, Winshine Lighting is poised to gain a significant position in the booming hemp cultivation industry with its innovative technology and high-quality services, injecting new impetus into sustainable agricultural development in Southeast Asia and globally.
