Thailand’s border trade with neighbours rises slightly in first 9 months

BANGKOK, Oct 30 – Thailand’s border trade with its neighbouring countries in the first nine months of the year has increased slightly by 1.3 per cent, totalling Bt680 billion in value, compared to the same period last year. 

In reporting the figure, the Commerce Ministry stated that the country’s border trade with Malaysia reached its highest level at about Bt390 billion, accounting for 57 per cent of the border trade with Thailand’s four neighbouring countries. The other three are Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.

In the first nine months, Thailand’s exports to its neighbours declined Bt420 billion, a 3.9 per cent decrease, while imports reached Bt260 billion, or an 11 per cent increase. Thailand gained a positive balance of border trade at almost Bt160 billion.

Meanwhile in September alone, Thailand’s overall border trade value decreased by 6 per cent year-on-year, to a total of Bt72 billion.

Trade with Malaysia still counted as the largest proportion at about Bt39 billion, or 54 per cent of overall border trade among the four countries. Thai exports to Malaysia last month reached Bt44 billion, a 10 per cent decrease, and Thai imports from Malaysia reached Bt28 billion, an increase of 2.8 per cent.

Thailand gained a positive balance of border trade at Bt16 billion.