Thailand’s exports rose by 24.2% year-on-year in December, beating expectations and helping 2021 growth hit 17.1%, the highest in 11 years.
Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit revealed on Friday customs-cleared exports tallied US$24.9 billion (811 billion baht) last month, with imports increasing by 33.4% to $25.3 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $354 million.
For the whole year, Thai exports expanded by 17.1% to $271 billion, while imports rose by 29.8% to $268 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $3.57 billion.
Exports in the real sector (excluding gold, oil-related products and weaponry) continued to rise by 23% in December from a year earlier, following a rise of 18.9% in November.
Exports that grew in December included: agricultural and food products; work-from-home products and home appliances such as…
