Thai exports unexpectedly rise for second straight month in September

THAILAND’S customs-based exports unexpectedly increased 2.1 per cent in September from a year earlier, helped by higher shipments of rice and farm products, the commerce ministry said on Tuesday, despite sluggish global demand.

The reading compared with a forecast for a 1.75 per cent year-on-year drop for September in a Reuters poll, and followed August’s 2.6 per cent increase.

In September, Thailand posted a trade surplus of US$2.1 billion, compared with a forecast surplus of US$0.49 billion, while imports fell 8.3 per cent year-on-year.

Last month, the ministry predicted exports would be flat or down by 1 per cent this year.

In the January-September period, exports contracted 3.8 per cent year-on-year while imports dropped 6.0 per cent and the trade deficit stood at US$5.8 billion. REUTERS