Deputy Government Spokesperson Sasikarn Watthanachan quoted a report from the Department of Foreign Trade stating that Thailand’s border and transit trade in January 2025 amounted to 145.14 billion baht, representing an increase of 2.7 percent over the same period in 2024.

Out of this amount, 78 billion baht involved exports, marking a 3.8 percent rise, while imports stood at 67.1 billion baht, an increase of 1.5 percent. As a result, Thailand gained a trade surplus of 10.9 billion baht.

Statistics show that the breakdown of border trade with neighboring countries, namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, and Myanmar, came to 83.8 billion baht. Thailand gained a trade surplus of 17.26 billion baht with the four countries.

Among these countries, Lao PDR registered the highest trade value at 25.2 billion baht, followed by Malaysia, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Major Thai exports to the four neighboring countries include diesel oil, finished oil products, and agro-industrial products. 

As for transit trade to third countries – China, Singapore, Vietnam, and others – it was valued at 61.34 billion baht, up by 4.2 percent. China was the largest market at 34.62 billion baht, followed by Singapore and Vietnam. Major Thai exports to these countries include hard disk drives, block rubber, and other rubber products.

Ms. Sasikarn said that trade via border checkpoints to third countries continued to grow steadily. The Government was monitoring Thai-Myanmar border trade that might face disruptions in February 2025, as a result of Thailand’s serious operations against call center scams by cutting off electricity and fuel supplies provided to several locations along the border. The operations were likely to affect Thai exports to Myanmar.

She said that the Government thanked entrepreneurs for their important role in driving border trade, which saw steady growth. The Government would continue to promote trade cooperation with neighboring countries and international trading partners in order to create greater economic opportunities for Thai business people. It is also ready to support measures to improve logistics aimed at facilitating border trade.