BANGKOK, Aug 27 — The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), said that the value of Thai exports was recorded at US$18.8 billion in July, falling by 0.85 per cent, according to Duangkamol Jiambutr, DITP deputy director-general,
Ms Duangkamol said imports amounted to US$19.9 billion, dropping by 2.86 per cent, and that Thailand posted a trade deficit of $1.10 billion.
In the first seven months of this year, the Thai exports were valued at US$131 billion, down 0.42 per cent, and imports amounted to $132 billion, decreasing 12.49 per cent.
During the same period, Thailand recorded a trade deficit worth US$865 million.
July’s export decline resulted from Thailand’s export of gold and oil affected by lower global investment demands.
Additionally the export of Thai farm commodities decreased, for example by 23.4 per cent for the export of rubber.
The value of agricultural and agro-industrial exports increased by only 1.4 per cent, the value of industrial exports rose by 1 per cent, and other exports dropped by 8.3 per cent.
Ms Duangkamol said Thai exports could rise in the second half of this year as trading partners usually increase their imports from August to November.
However, she said that it would also depend on the global economic situation, rubber prices that are low and obstructing the targeted Thai export value.
The Ministry of Commerce predicted that the value of Thai exports will rise by 3.5 per cent this year on condition that the figure reaches at least US$20.6 billion monthly for the rest of the year.
