Thailand’s exports to grow over 5.5 % in 2017

BANGKOK, Sept 23 (TNA) -- The Economic Intelligence Center (EIC), a unit of Siam Commercial Bank Public Company Limited, forecasts that Thailand’s exports in 2017 would sustain growth of over 5.5 per cent after exports in August grew highest in the past 55 months. Exports during the calendar 2017 would grow 5.5 per cent after economy of Thailand’s key trading partners including the United States, the Eurozone, Japan and China have showed positive signs in the wake of reduced political tensions in Europe, said the EIC. Trade and investment climates in those countries have begun to pick up and they would help increase demand for Thai key industrial goods during the rest of this year, it said. Thailand’s consumer products may have been affected on the back of possible decline in oil prices and the Thai baht currency which has appreciated against other regional currencies, said the EIC. Thailand’s exports could grow more than 5.5 per cent in 2017 on the condition that its industrial sector and world trade continue to grow over expectations, it said. On imports by Thailand this year, the EIC said they would expand 11.3 per cent due to higher demand for raw materials and capital goods during the rest of 2017, it added. (TNA)