Bangkok: August 2015 marked a significant milestone for Thai exports, with an increase of 5.8% to nearly 900 billion baht, as reported by the Office of Trade Policy and Strategy (OTPS). This marks the 14th consecutive month of growth for the nation's exports. Notably, gold exports alone were valued at over US$1 billion during this period.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, Director of OTPS and spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, announced that the total value of Thai exports in August 2025 reached US$27,743.2 million (approximately 889,014 million baht). Excluding categories such as oil-related goods, gold, and military equipment, the growth rate stood at 5.4 percent.
The landscape of export growth has been influenced by the implementation of US retaliatory tariffs beginning on August 7th. Despite rising inventory levels in the US due to weak demand, the electronics and electrical appliances sectors continue to see growth. Conversely, agricultural products like rice, rubber, and cassava face challenges from price competition. For the first eight months of 2025, exports expanded by 13.3 percent, excluding certain goods.
In August 2025, exports were valued at US$27,743.2 million, reflecting a 5.8 percent increase from the previous year, while imports stood at US$29,707.6 million, a 15.8 percent rise, resulting in a trade deficit of US$1,964.4 million. From January to August 2025, exports totaled US$223,175.8 million, marking a 13.3 percent increase, with imports valued at US$224,880.3 million, leading to a trade deficit of US$1,704.5 million.
When considering trade in baht, August 2025 exports were valued at 889.014 billion baht, showing a 5.5 percent contraction compared to the previous year, while imports reached 964.331 billion baht, with a 3.6 percent increase and a trade deficit of 75.317 billion baht. For the first eight months of 2025, exports amounted to 7.396 billion baht, a 4.7 percent rise, with imports at 7.544 billion baht, resulting in a trade deficit of 148.582 billion baht.
Gold exports in August were valued at US$1,111.2 million, with total gold exports for the first eight months of 2015 reaching US$8,733.4 million. Thailand exported gold worth US$197.5 million to Cambodia in August and US$2,234.6 million over the first eight months of 2015.
The appreciation of the baht poses challenges for Thai agricultural exports, as it renders Thai products more expensive compared to those from other countries. While export growth is anticipated to continue throughout 2025, some concerns linger due to US reciprocal tariffs. However, these have declined following new negotiations and trade agreements. Factors such as the border trade situation, India's rice export policy, a slowing US economy, and the appreciating baht continue to exert pressure on Thai exporters. The Ministry of Commerce plans to expedite negotiations, expand into new markets, and promote digital trade channels to sustain growth and achieve its targets.