BANGKOK, 22 February 2012 – The Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) has revealed that the border trade value was nearly 900 billion baht in 2011, a 15.6% increase year-on-year.
DFT Deputy Director-General Pongpun Gearaviriyapun said that Thailand’s exports to neighbors accounted for 587 billion of the 900 billion baht in total trade value, an increase of 21% from last year’s; while the import was worth 312 billion, a 7% increase.
Ms Pongpun said although some hiccups occurred in the neighbor trade due to several factors, last year’s overall trade was considered a success. According to her, Thailand’s trade volume with Malaysia was the highest, followed by Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.
She stated that the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) has benefitted Thailand in terms of border trade, adding that once the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) takes shape in 2015, there will be more free flow of goods. The Department, in addition, expects the border trades this year to reach 1 trillion baht.
