Deputy Government Spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek has disclosed a significant boost in Thailand’s exports to signatories of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) during the first five months of 2023.
Trade value between Thailand and these nations, which include key markets such as ASEAN, China and Japan, has continued to rise, particularly across the agriculture and processed agricultural sectors.
During this period, processed agricultural exports to the RCEP markets saw remarkable growth. These exports included granulated sugar, canned and processed fruits and vegetables, and canned and processed seafood. Additionally, there was a notable expansion in the export of fresh, chilled, frozen and dried fruits. On the industrial goods front, automobiles, equipment and components, and rubber products experienced significant export growth.
From January to April 2023, Thai exports leveraging the benefits under the RCEP agreement surged by 107% compared to the previous year, equating to a value of US$422 million. Top destinations for these exports included South Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam, and Australia. Products such as crude oil, canned and processed fish, soft drinks, cassava, candles, motorcycles, and fresh durian saw the highest demand under the RCEP benefits.
Ratchada also emphasized the government’s commitment to expanding the global market for Thai fruits through online platforms. This includes fresh seasonal, processed, and canned fruits. The Department of International Trade Promotion has been actively negotiating with various e-commerce platforms and discussing online distribution strategies with modern retail businesses like Macro Click, Big C and Lotus.
Additionally, they are encouraging entrepreneurs to establish their online stores on different social media platforms to facilitate access to individual consumers and foster connections with larger operators in the future. (NNT)
