Exports by Thai SMEs up 6.7% in first four months

BANGKOK, June 1 (TNA) - Export value by Thailand’s small and medium businesses (SMEs) during the first four months of this year increased 6.7 per cent year-on-year, according to a report released by the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP). SMEs earned about 600.64 billion baht from exports between January – April period, the report said. The exports accounted for 25.3 per cent of total export values by the country. Jewellery and ornaments ranked first among exported products during the period, earning some 94.19 billion baht, followed by plastics, plastic products, and machinery. Major importers were China, Japan and the U.S. Imports bySMEs during the first four months this year valued approximately 686.95 billion baht, down 20.5 per cent from the corresponding period of 2013, and accounted 28.3 per cent of the total imports. China, Japan and Singapore were the key exporters for SMEs. The report also said that a total of 19,684 new SME businesses were set up between this January-April, a decline of 19.5 per cent from the same period last year. During the same period, 3,731 businesses were closed down, an increase of 9.9 per cent from the corresponding period last year. (TNA)