Thailand: Exports expand for first time in five months in July
Exports rose 4.3% over the same month last year in July, contrasting both June’s 2.1% drop and the 2.3% decline that market analysts had expected. July’s healthy outturn reflected stronger shipments of gold and food.
Imports rose 1.7% in July, contrasting the 9.4% contraction in June and representing the first positive reading in six months. July’s result also contrasted the 5.4% drop expected by market analysts. The sharp rise reflected strong growth in imports of capital and consumer goods.
The trade balance swung to a surplus of USD 0.1 billion in July 2019 from a deficit of USD 0.4 billion in July 2018 (June 2019: USD 3.2 billion surplus). The 12-month moving sum of the trade balance jumped to a USD 4.5 billion surplus from the USD 4.0 billion surplus in June.