Overseas turmoil hits Thai export expansion

Thai exports grew for a 14th consecutive month in April, albeit at a slower pace than a month earlier, despite pressure from a host of factors.

Negative factors including the ongoing war in Ukraine and Western sanctions against Russia have caused global supply chain disruptions, while inflation is rising in many countries and China’s economic slowdown is being complicated by its zero-Covid strategy.

The Commerce Ministry said yesterday the customs-cleared value of Thai exports in April grew by 9.9% year-on-year to US$23.5 billion, with imports increasing by 21.5% to $25.4 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $1.90 billion.

That was lower than March’s robust 19.5% export growth, which hit a value of $28.8 billion (922 billion baht), the highest level since records began in…