BANGKOK, June 2 – The export value generated by Thailand’s small- and medium-sized businesses during the first four months this year increased 6.7 per cent year-on-year, to 25.3 per cent of the country’s total export value, according to a report released by the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP).
SMEs earned about Bt600.64 billion from exports between January and April this year, the report said.
Jewellery and ornaments ranked first in exports in the period, earning some Bt94.19 billion, followed by plastic and plastic products, and machinery. Major importers were China, Japan and the US.
Imports by SMEs during the first four months this year valued approximately Bt686.95 billion, down 20.5 per cent from the corresponding period of 2013, and accounted for 28.3 per cent of total imports. China, Japan and Singapore were the key exporters for SMEs.
In another development, 19,684 new businesses were set up between this January-April, a decline of 19.5 per cent from the same period last year.
During the same period, 3,731 businesses closed, an increase of 9.9 per cent from the corresponding period last year.
