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Thailand records strongest export growth since early 2022

The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.

A man works at a rice mill in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, on April 18, 2025. (Photo: Bangkok Post)
A man works at a rice mill in Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, on April 18, 2025. (Photo: Bangkok Post)

Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s exports surged by 18.4% year-on-year in May 2025, reaching a record high of 31 billion USD, the country’s strongest export growth since March 2022 and marking the fifth consecutive month of double-digit expansion, according to Thai Minister of Commerce Pichai Naripthaphan.

The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.

The positive trade performance coincides with ongoing negotiations between Thailand and the US to reduce tariffs of up to 36% on Thai exports.

According to Permanent Secretary for Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan, Thailand has put forward promising proposals, which could lower tariffs to a base rate of 10%. A formal proposal is expected to be submitted to Washington on June 20 following technical discussions this week.

The US was Thailand’s largest export market last year, accounting for nearly 20% of total exports, with Thailand enjoying a 46 billion USD trade surplus.

Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce said the outlook for the second half of 2025 will largely hinge on the outcome of the tariff negotiations with the US, while also monitoring potential trade disruptions caused by instability in the Middle East and ongoing border tensions with Cambodia./.

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