Exports of some Thai products surge in 1st quarter 2015

BANGKOK, March 2 (TNA) - Exports of some Thai products surged in January 2015 although overall Thai exports dropped in the first month of this year. Nopporn Thepsitthar, Chair of the Thai National Shippers' Council, told journalists on Monday that exports of Thai electronic circuits expanded most in January 2015, by 21 per cent year-on-year, followed by those of automobiles and auto parts by 16 per cent year-on-year. Nopporn said that Thailand's export value in January peaked in the United States at 1.9 billion US dollars, a 5 per cent year-on-year increase, but the export value to China plunged by 19.69 year-on-year. Nopporn conceded, however, that the total value of Thai exports dropped by 3.46 per cent year-on-year in January to 17 billion US dollars, with natural rubber being the biggest fall of 40.6 per cent year-on-year due to economic problems. Vallop Vitanakorn, the council's Vice Chairman, assessed that the total value of Thai exports is likely to decline by 2 per cent in the first quarter of this year, compared with the fourth quarter of last year, as exports to such major markets as Europe and China should drop due to economic slowdowns and baht appreciation. Vallop projected that Thailand's export value should grow by 1.1-1.5 per cent on average throughout this year. Meanwhile, the council proposed that the government handle export promotion as a national agenda so that all concerned parties would join forces to promote Thai exports. (TNA)