(Photo: Apichart Jinakul)Thailand’s inbound shipments soared while exports growth slowed, even before the conflict in the Middle East began disrupting global trade and raising costs. Imports jumped 31.8% in February from a year earlier, accelerating from 29.4% in January, and exports moderated to 9.9% from 24.4%, Commerce Ministry data showed Tuesday. In ‌the first two months of this year, exports grew 18.9% and were ⁠seen rising for the full year, the ministry said in a statement. With imports outpacing exports for a fifth straight months, Thailand recorded a trade deficit of US$2.83 billion. Higher demand for machinery and other capital goods as well as gold imports contributed to the surge in inbound shipments, while agricultural commodities weighed on exports, Natiya Suchinda, deputy head of the ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office, said in a briefing Tuesday.

Source: Bangkok Post March 24, 2026 04:30 UTC