Illustrative photo (Source: BangkokPost) Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand’s exports increased 8.7 percent in October from a year earlier, nearly double the forecast of 4.5 percent.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, the growth was led by higher shipments of fuel, gold, petrochemicals and agricultural products
But exports of cars and parts, computers and accessories and electronics fell, it said.
Also in October, Thai exports to the US rose 7.2 percent against last year, after September’s 1.2 percent increase. Shipments to China were 3 percent higher, following a 14-percent decline in September.
Meanwhile, imports went up 11.23 percent annually after rising 9.9 percent in September. This resulted in a trade deficit of 280 million USD in October.
In the first 10 months of 2018, exports and imports respectively rose 8.19 and 14.74 percent year on year.
The ministry said it is keeping an export growth target of 8 percent this year, compared to last year’s figure of 9.9 percent.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said if the country could push exports to a 7-percent rise or more in the last two months of this year, gross domestic product will grow 4 percent.-VNA
VNA
