BANGKOK, Feb (TNA) – Thailand’s exports in January
contracted for the third consecutive month, due mainly to the US-China trade
war and continued Thai currency appreciation, the Ministry of Commerce
announced on Friday.
January’s total export value stood at US$18.993 billion, a
5.65 year-on-year drop, said Pimchanok Vonkorpon, director-general of the
Commerce Ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO).
The import value totaled at $23.026 billion, resulting in a
trade deficit of $4.032 billion, she said.
Pimchanok said the fall in export value was caused by the
trade war and the baht’s appreciation.
The surge in baht value had also affected Thailand’s
competitiveness in the world market, she said.
While expecting the impact of the baht appreciation would
not last long, Pimchanok urged manufactures to make necessary adjustments and
focus on maintaining the high-quality standard of their goods.
The Commerce Ministry sought to explore new markets for Thai
exports, she added.(TNA)
