Thailand’s cross-border trade with neighboring countries and trade via border checkpoints to third countries in March 2023 was valued at 163.7 billion baht, representing an increase of 9.57 percent over the same period in 2022. 

Out of this amount, trade with four countries sharing borders with Thailand, namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, and Myanmar, came to 88.7 billion baht. Thailand gained a trade surplus of 24.37 billion baht with the four neighboring countries.

Major Thai exports to Cambodia include passenger cars, pick-ups, and buses, while exports to Lao PDR include diesel and other finished oils, as well as industrial products; to Malaysia computers and parts; and to Myanmar diesel and other finished oils, and mobile phones.

As for trade via border checkpoints to third countries – China, Singapore, Vietnam, and others – it was valued at 75 billion baht, with China as the major market.

The Government has a policy to promote Thailand’s border trade and ease obstacles to exports. As of 20 March 2023, 87 out of 97 border checkpoints on the Thai side have been opened, under measures to control COVID-19.

The Government also plans to launch a project to boost cross-border trade and trade via border checkpoints at three special economic zones from June to August 2023, as follows:

1) Border Trade Fair in the special economic zone connecting with Cambodia and Myanmar (Kanchanaburi, Sa Kaeo, and Trat), to be held in Sa Kaeo in June;

2) Border Trade Fair in the special economic zone connecting with Lao PDR (Chiang Rai, Tak, Nong Khai, Mukdahan, and Nakhon Phanom), to be held in Nong Khai in July;

3) Border Trade Fair in the special economic zone connecting with Malaysia, to be held in Narathiwat in August.

Apart from a trade exhibition and sales of consumer goods and OTOP products, each fair will also include seminars and business matching between Thai entrepreneurs and their counterparts from neighboring countries.

The project aims to stimulate trade and investment in the three special economic zones, with a target of 1.06 trillion baht in border trade value in 2023.