Bangkok: September saw a significant surge in Thai exports, increasing by 19% to reach a value of US$30.97 billion, the highest growth in 42 months.
According to Thai News Agency, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) reported that this increase marks the 15th consecutive month of export expansion. The growth was largely driven by industrial products and a recovery in the global economy, which helped alleviate concerns over US reciprocal import tariff measures.
Mr. Nantapong Jiralertphong, Director of the Office of Trade Policy and Strategy and spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, highlighted that this surge in exports was accompanied by a 17.2% increase in imports, valued at US$29,695.6 million, resulting in a trade surplus of US$1,275.2 million. For the first nine months of 2025, exports totaled US$254,146.5 million, a 13.9% increase from the previous year, while imports reached US$254,575.8 million, leading to a trade deficit of US$429.3 million.
Looking ahead, export trends are expected to continue expanding, supported by growth in digital technology, processed agricultural products, and food products. These sectors remain in high demand globally. Although Thailand faces a 19% US tariff in ASEAN countries, its competitiveness remains intact. However, potential risks such as trade tensions between the US and China, a possible US shutdown affecting freight transport, and currency fluctuations pose challenges.
The MOC has implemented policies to enhance export growth, including negotiating with trading partners to boost imports, expediting free trade agreement negotiations, tightening product origin inspections, and promoting fairness for Thai businesses. The Ministry aims to achieve export growth of 9.4-10.4% for 2025, potentially reaching a total export value of up to US$332.146 billion or 10.67 trillion baht, marking a record high for the country.