Thai exports slightly increase in Jan-July 2013

BANGKOK, August 26 (TNA) - The Ministry of Commerce reports that Thai exports during the first seven months of this year stood at 132.37 billion US dollars, a slight 0.6 per cent year-on-year increase. Vatchari Vimooktayon, Permanent Secretary for Commerce, acknowledged on Monday, however, that Thailand's imports in the first seven months of this year totaled 150.42 billion US dollars, a 3.8 per cent year-on-year increase. Consequently, Thailand posted a trade deficit of about 18.05 billion US dollars in the first seven months of this year. Vatchari said the value of Thai exports in July this year alone stood at 19.06 billion US dollars, a drop by 1.4 per cent year-on-year due to impacts of an economic slowdown in the eurozone, the United States, Japan and China, as well as unrest in Turkey, Syria and Lebanon. Vatchari noted that the value of Thai exports to main markets dropped by 4 per cent year-on-year and to emerging markets, like the Middle East, plunged by 13.9 per cent year-on-year. According to the senior official, the value of Thai imports in July amounted to 21.35 billion, a 1.08 per cent year-on-year increase; so, the country posted a trade deficit of 2.28 billion US dollars in July. (TNA)