Bangkok: Commerce Ministry reveals that Thai exports in April 2025 grew by 10.2%, the 10th consecutive month, reiterating that the ‘Paethongtarn’ government has grown by 12.5% in 7 months, confident that the whole year will grow by no less than 4%, emphasizing the acceleration of negotiations with the United States, expecting that results can be concluded within 90 days.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pichai Naripthaphan, Minister of Commerce, announced the export figures for April 2025, with a total value of 25,625.1 million US dollars or approximately 857,700 million baht, expanding by 10.2 percent, expanding for the 10th consecutive month. If excluding products related to oil, gold, and military equipment, exports still expanded by 7.1 percent, with the industrial and agricultural industry groups being the main drivers. Thailand’s major export markets continued to expand, including the United States, China, Japan, ASEAN, and the European Union. As a result, the overall exports in the first 4 months of 2025 expanded by 14.0 percent, and if excluding oil, gold, and military equipment, the growth rate was 12.1 percent. In the 7 months of Prime Minister Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra’s administration, exports expanded by 12.5 percent, which has not been seen at this level for decades.

Mr. Pichai emphasized that exports remain the main engine driving the Thai economy. He stated that even if exports do not grow further in the remaining 8 months, Thailand will still be able to maintain an average growth rate of more than 4 percent, which is higher than previously projected. The minister added that if negotiations with the US succeed in granting Thailand the same tariff rate as other countries, it will greatly increase Thailand’s competitiveness. He noted that negotiations with the US have progressed significantly and are expected to conclude within 90 days.

In April 2025, Thailand’s total exports were worth 25,625.1 million US dollars, expanding by 10.2 percent. Imports were worth 28,946.4 million US dollars, expanding by 16.1 percent, resulting in a trade deficit of 3,321.3 million US dollars. In the first 4 months of 2025, exports were worth 107,157.4 million US dollars, expanding by 14.0 percent, while imports were worth 109,397.8 million US dollars, expanding by 9.6 percent, with a trade deficit of 2,240.3 million US dollars. The value of agricultural and agro-industrial exports contracted by 8.4 percent year-on-year, continuing to contract for 2 months. Agricultural products contracted by 19.6 percent, continuing to contract for 4 months, while agro-industrial products expanded by 9.1 percent, returning to expansion after contracting in the previous month. Important products that expanded included rubber, fresh, chilled, frozen, and processed chicken, and sugar, while significant contractions were seen in automobiles, machinery, and fax machines.

Mr. Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, Director of the Office of Trade Policy and Strategy (OTPS), Spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, noted that exports to most major markets continued to expand, supported by continuous factors from the acceleration of exports amid uncertainty of the US tariff policy. Especially notable was the US market, which expanded significantly after the postponement of the collection of reciprocal tariffs for another 90 days until July 9, 2025. In April, the US market expanded by 23.8% and has continued to grow for 19 consecutive months. Other major markets also expanded, with ASEAN expanding by 7.8% for 2 consecutive months, South Asia by 8.7% for 7 consecutive months, the European Union by 6.1% for 11 consecutive months, Japan by 5.5% for 2 consecutive months, and China by 3.2% for 7 consecutive months.

For the US market in April, which expanded by 23.8 percent, important products that expanded included computers, equipment and components, switchboards and electrical control panels, and gems and jewelry. Important products that contracted included semiconductor devices, transistors and diodes, fax machines, telephones, equipment and components, and automobiles, equipment and components. The first 4 months of 2025 expanded by 25.0 percent.