Thai exports increase 24.2% to $24.9M in December
Thailand's export growth last month soared by 24.2 per cent year-on-year, commerce minister Jurin Laksanawisit said on January 21.
The growth keeps up last year’s momentum when overall export growth was 17.1 per cent, exceeding by four times the original target of four per cent.
He said the commerce ministry expected the country’s exports to continue growing, at around three-to-four per cent this year.
Last month’s exports were valued at $24.9 billion, while imports were up 33.4 per cent to $25.2 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $354.2 million.
Thailand’s exports in 2021 totalled $271.1 billion, a 17.1 per cent rise over the previous year. Imports jumped 29.8 per cent year-on-year to $267.6 billion, for a trade surplus of $3.57 billion, said Jurin, who also doubles as a deputy prime minister.
The commerce minister attributed the “success” to various factors, including close coordination between his ministry and the private sector, economic recovery in many importing countries, global economic expansion, increased competitiveness resulting from a weaker baht, and higher oil prices.
Thailand’s exports of major products have seen increases last year – 21.1 per cent in agricultural products, 24.1 per cent in processed farm products, and 24 per cent in industrial products.
Among Thailand’s key export markets that saw a high growth last year were Australia (increasing by as much as 54.4 per cent), Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries (up 45.8 per cent), the US (36.5 per cent), Latin America (36.5 per cent), ASEAN (35 per cent) and Africa (34.1 per cent). Read More…
