Thailand: Export growth contracts but trade balance remains in surplus in September
Thailand recorded a USD 487 million trade surplus in September, contrasting August’s USD 588 million deficit but noticeably below the USD 3.4 billion surplus recorded in the same month a year earlier. The 12-month moving sum of the trade balance narrowed markedly from a USD 7.7 billion surplus in August to a USD 4.7 billion surplus in September, the lowest reading since August 2015.
Exports contracted a marked 5.2% in September over a year ago in USD terms, contrasting the previous month’s 6.7% year-on-year increase. The contraction was driven by less exports of motor cars; precious stones and jewelry; rubber products; and electronic integrated circuits. Meanwhile, import growth slowed markedly from 22.8% in August to 9.9% in September.