Thailand's exports of construction materials in 2013 to grow 10%

BANGKOK, May 5 (TNA) - Thailand is expected to earn a minimum of 10.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2013, up 10 per cent from last year, on exports of construction materials due to higher demands from key importing buyers including Hong Kong, Japan and Australia, said Srirat Rastapana, Director-General of Trade Promotion Department. During the first quarter of this year, Thailand earned about 2.96 billion U.S. dollars from exports of construction materials, an increase of 60 per cent from the same period of 2012, following higher demands, especially in iron, Srirat said. Currently, exports of construction materials command about 5.2 per cent of Thailand’s total exports. It is expected that Thailand’s exports to Hong Kong are expected to grow further following signing of an agreement to boost trade and economic between Hong Kong and Thailand in February this year. Exports of iron and its products to Australia are also projected to grow after the latter lifted anti-dumping investigation on iron products from Thailand last June. Positive signs are also seen on exports of construction materials to the three Indochinese countries and Myanmar, all fellow members in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, due to expansion of basic infrastructure projects in those countries, especially in Myanmar. The Thai government, meanwhile, is putting efforts in widening oversea markets for construction materials while local exporters are urged to improve quality and to also introduce newly furnished products to boost market as well as their value-added. (TNA)