TNSC maintains Thailand's export growth forecast 2017 at 3.5%

BANGKOK, May 30 (TNA) - The Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) has maintained its projection on the country's export growth rate this year at 3.5 per cent year-on-year. TNSC President Kanyapak Tantipipatpong told journalists of the decision on Tuesday, reasoning that Thai exports grew by 5.69 per cent year-on-year during the first four months of this year. Kanyapak elaborated that the value of Thai exports reached over 73.32 billion US dollars during the January-April 2017 period, while the value of Thai exports in April alone stood at over 16.86 billion US dollars, a 8.49 per cent year-on-year expansion. Kanyapak said positive factors that should further boost the value of Thai exports during the rest of the year include rising prices of petroleum, commodities agricultural and industrial products in line with the upward trend of the world market. The TNSC chief cautioned, however, on remaining risk factors faced by the Thai export sector, including the appreciation of the Thai baht when compared with major trading partners, which could affect operational costs and competitiveness of local exporters, as well as uncertainties on international security issues, a new trade protectionist policy of the United States and a shortage of containers for overseas goods shipments. (TNA)