The Commerce Ministry is confident that Thai exports will remain competitive with those of other countries, as Thai products shipped to the main US market now face the same 19% tariff as many rival countries.
Poonpong Naiyanapaporn, Director of the ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO), told the media that Thailand’s export growth to the United States has slowed down since Washington imposed its new tariffs on trading partners from August 2025.
According to official statistics, Thai exports to the US market increased by as much as 34%, 23%, 35%, 42% and 31.4% from March-July 2025, but declined, in line with other exporting countries, to 12.8% last month.
Poonpong stated, however, that overall Thai exports to the world market have steadily increased over the past 14 months, with the expansion during the first eight months of this year recorded at 13.3% and valued at over US$223 billion.
He noted that accelerated imports of materials by domestic producers prior to the US administration’s new tariff rates taking effect have resulted in a trade deficit for Thailand of just over US$1.7 billion between January and August this year, when overall imports reached over US$224 billion, up 11.3%.
The TPSO said Thailand is still likely to achieve the official export growth target of 2-3% in 2025, despite the challenging factors of the Thai-Cambodian border issues, the strong Thai baht and a declining trend in global demand late this year, due to previously imported stocks.
Major Thai exports to the world market have, so far, included wheat products, processed food, processed chicken, frozen shrimp, computers and parts, machines and parts, electronic circuits, as well as gems and jewelry.
