Thai exports in October rose by nearly 4 percent year on year to more than 20.16 billion USD, making it the highest increase level in 21 months due to the growth of overseas demand for vehicles and auto parts.

Imports in the month, meanwhile, declined 4.88 percent from the same time last year to 20.13 billion USD, posting a trade surplus of more than 30 million USD.

Exports in the first 10 months of 2014 totalled 190.6 billion USD, down 0.36 percent from the same period last year, while imports amounted to 192.1 billion USD, down 9.49 percent, bringing to the accumulated trade deficit of 1.486 billion USD, Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya was quoted by Thai media as saying.

The full year growth projection will be grown by around 0.05-0.5 percent relying on the estimated values for the last two months of this year at about 19 billion USD in November and 19.5 billion USD in December, he added.

According to Fiscal Policy Office (FPO), outbound shipments may grow only 0.1 percent this year due to lower farm prices and the slow global economy.

The fragile global recover was likely to impact the Thai economy because of dependence on exports. Only the US, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam has shown recovery, while the outlook in Europe and Japan remained gloomy, Bangkok Post newspaper citing FPO Deputy Director-General Ekniti Nitithanprapas reported.

It is expected that Thai exports in 2015 would rise by 3.5 percent in 2015, in line with the improved global economy.-VNA