Thailand’s cross-border trade down 7.6 percent in Q1 (Source: Bangkok Post)Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s cross-border trade fell by 7.6percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last yearas the COVID-19 pandemic hit the global economy and led borderingcountries to close dozens of checkpoints.
The Foreign Trade Department under the Ministry of Commerce said thecountry's overall cross-border trade, including transit trade, totalled 264.97billion baht (8.18 billion USD) in the first three months.
Of the totalfigures, exports from Thailand totalled 187.56 billion baht, down 5.4 percentfrom the first three months of last year, and imports also decreased 12.6percent to 77.4 billion baht.
Thailand's border trade with four neighbouring countries amounted to 195.66billion baht, down 7.4 percent from the same period last year. Malaysia remained the biggest partner for Thailand'sborder trade, with the two-way trade at 56.47 billion baht. It was followed bytrade with Laos (42.68 billion baht), Cambodia (48.33 billion baht) and Myanmar(48.16 billion baht).
Transit trade with Singapore, Vietnam andsouthern China dropped 2.2 percen in the first quarter, totalling 61.86 billionbaht. Transit trade to southern China recovered to fetch the greatest valueafter China reopened, with value rising to 28.62 billion baht, up 4.9 percent,followed by Singapore (19.70 billion baht) and Vietnam (13.53 billion baht).
According to Keerati Rushchano, Director-General of thedepartment, outstanding performance was seen in exports to Cambodia, which sawcontinued growth of 14.3 percent in the reviewed period./.
VNA
