Thailand's exports jump 24.3 pct in August

BANGKOK, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's exports expanded for the 26th consecutive month in August, mainly driven by overseas investments in infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI)-related industries, which in turn fueled demand for electronic products, official data showed on Friday.

A worker arranges durians at a durian processing factory in Chanthaburi province, Thailand, May 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

Exports, a key driver of the Southeast Asian country's economic growth, expanded 24.3 percent year-on-year last month to 34.62 billion U.S. dollars, up from a 21.6 percent gain in July, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Industrial product shipments soared 27.1 percent year-on-year, marking the 29th successive month of expansion, with the fastest growth recorded in video recording, telephones, and printed circuits.

The August data also indicated that imports surged 25.1 percent from a year earlier to 37.10 billion dollars, resulting in a monthly trade deficit of 2.48 billion dollars.

Looking ahead, Thai exports are expected to continue their upward trajectory through the remainder of 2026, supported by steady demand for AI-related products and clarity on U.S. tariff policies, said Natiya Suchinda, deputy director-general of the ministry's Trade Policy and Strategy Office.

However, geopolitical risks, energy prices, and freight rates remain downside pressures on global trade that warrant close attention, Natiya said in a statement.