BANGKOK, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's exports grew for an eleventh straight month in May, driven by industrial shipments ahead of impending U.S. tariff measures, official data showed on Wednesday.
Exports, a key driver of the Southeast Asian country's economic growth, soared 18.4 percent year-on-year last month to a record high of 31.04 billion U.S. dollars, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
The expansion marked the highest rate in 38 months and a sharp acceleration from the 10.2-percent growth registered in April.
Industrial shipments jumped 22.9 percent in May, up from a 16.6-percent increase in the previous month, fueled by significant growth in sales of computers, integrated circuits, and machinery and parts.
Exports of agro-industrial goods surged 10.1 percent, while agricultural products rose 6.8 percent, reflecting the first expansion in five months.
The data also indicated that imports increased 18 percent from a year earlier to 29.92 billion dollars in May, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.11 billion dollars.
For the first five months of 2025, exports climbed 14.9 percent to 138.20 billion dollars, while imports picked up 11.3 percent to 139.32 billion dollars, yielding a trade deficit of 1.12 billion dollars.
Export growth demonstrates the true potential of Thai products, rather than being solely attributable to the foreign policies of specific countries, Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan told a news conference.
Pichai expressed his confidence in the kingdom's double-digit export growth by year-end, assuming the current upward trajectory will be maintained, despite the need to closely monitor concerning factors. ■
