Thai Sep exports rise 7.8 per cent y-o-y, beat forecast

THAILAND’S exports rose more than expected in September, helped by increased shipments of food and industrial goods, the commerce minister said on Wednesday (Oct 26).

Exports, a key driver of Thai growth, rose 7.8 per cent in September from a year earlier, compared with a forecast rise of 4.20 per cent year on year in a Reuters poll, and against August’s 7.5 per cent increase.

In the first nine months of 2022, exports rose 10.6 per cent from the same period a year ago, Jurin Laksanawisit told a news conference.

The ministry expects exports to expand well and achieve its target as a shortage of supply has begun to unravel while a weak baht was also supportive, it said in a statement.

September imports increased 15.6 per cent from a year earlier, less than a forecast 20.0 per cent increase.

Thailand posted a trade deficit of US$853 million in September, compared with a forecast deficit of US$2.9 billion. REUTERS