Tailàndia: Visió econòmica i política
Thailand is an emerging economy and active member of ASEAN; it is very open to international trade, which represents around 129% of its GDP (World Bank, latest data available). According to figures from Comtrade, in 2023, the country’s main exports were motor cars and other motor vehicles (4.5%), automatic data-processing machines and units (3.6%), electronic integrated circuits and parts (3.4%), motor vehicles for goods transport (3.3%), and petroleum oils and bituminous oils (3.1%); whereas imports mostly comprised petroleum oils (crude) (11.2%), electronic integrated circuits and parts (6.8%), petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons (4.0%), gold including gold plated with platinum, unwrought (2.7%), and telephone sets including cellular phones (2.5%).
In 2023, the country's main export partners were the U.S. (17.0%), China (12.0%), Japan (8.6%), Australia (4.3%), Malaysia (4.2%), Vietnam and Hong Kong (3.9% each). Conversely, imports came chiefly from China (24.5%), Japan (10.8%), the U.S. (6.7%), the United Arab Emirates (5.5%), Malaysia (4.5%), and South Korea (3% - data Comtrade). Thailand has 14 free trade agreements with 18 countries/blocs. In 2020, Thailand signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with 14 other Indo-Pacific countries. This free trade agreement is the largest trade deal in history, covering 30 per cent of the global economy. It includes the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and ASEAN’s free trade agreement partners (Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea). The RCEP covers goods, services, investment, economic and technical cooperation. It also creates new rules for electronic commerce, intellectual property, government procurement, competition, and small and medium-sized enterprises.
According to WTO data, Thailand exported USD 284.5 billion worth of goods in 2023 (-1% year-on-year), compared with USD 289.7 billion in imports (-3.7%). Concerning services, exports stood at USD 63 billion against USD 65.4 billion in imports (+62% and +4.1%, respectively). The country had a structurally positive trade balance; however, the balance has been fluctuating in recent years. According to preliminary figures by the Ministry of Commerce, throughout 2024, the kingdom's exports grew by 5.4% to USD 300,529.5 million, while imports rose by 6.3% to USD 306,809.8 million, leading to a trade deficit of USD 6,280.4 million.
Foreign Trade Values | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Imports of Goods (million USD) | 236,260 | 206,156 | 266,882 | 301,030 | 289,754 |
Exports of Goods (million USD) | 246,269 | 231,634 | 272,006 | 287,425 | 284,562 |
Imports of Services (million USD) | 56,855 | 45,466 | 57,905 | 62,859 | 65,478 |
Exports of Services (million USD) | 81,178 | 30,997 | 25,407 | 38,901 | 63,033 |
Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Indicators | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) | 109.7 | 97.8 | 117.1 | 132.9 | 129.1 |
Trade Balance (million USD) | 26,725 | 40,402 | 31,945 | 13,543 | 19,379 |
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) | 51,047 | 25,933 | -597 | -10,329 | 10,443 |
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | -5.2 | -13.9 | 17.8 | 3.6 | -2.3 |
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | -3.0 | -19.7 | 11.1 | 6.1 | 2.1 |
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 50.2 | 46.3 | 58.6 | 67.5 | 63.7 |
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 59.5 | 51.5 | 58.6 | 65.4 | 65.4 |
Source: World Bank ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Forecasts | 2024 | 2025 (e) | 2026 (e) | 2027 (e) | 2028 (e) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 4.5 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 4.2 | 4.6 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 2.8 |
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data
Note: (e) Estimated Data
Main Customers (% of Exports) |
2023 |
United States | 17.0% |
China | 12.0% |
Japan | 8.6% |
Australia | 4.3% |
Malaysia | 4.2% |
Vietnam | 3.9% |
Hong Kong SAR, China | 3.9% |
Singapore | 3.6% |
India | 3.5% |
Indonesia | 3.5% |
Philippines (the) | 2.8% |
Cambodia | 2.3% |
South Korea | 2.1% |
Netherlands | 2.0% |
Laos | 1.6% |
Germany | 1.6% |
Myanmar | 1.5% |
United Kingdom | 1.4% |
Switzerland | 1.4% |
Mexico | 1.3% |
See More Countries | 53.9% |
Main Suppliers (% of Imports) |
2023 |
China | 24.5% |
Japan | 10.8% |
United States | 6.7% |
United Arab Emirates | 5.5% |
Malaysia | 4.5% |
South Korea | 3.0% |
Indonesia | 2.9% |
Singapore | 2.8% |
Vietnam | 2.7% |
Australia | 2.4% |
Germany | 2.1% |
Saudi Arabia | 2.1% |
India | 2.1% |
Switzerland | 1.7% |
Brazil | 1.5% |
Thailand ![]() |
1.4% |
Qatar | 1.2% |
France | 1.2% |
Philippines (the) | 1.1% |
Myanmar | 1.0% |
See More Countries | 47.9% |
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.
56.1 bn USD of services exported in 2023 | |
52.97% | |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 48.05% |
OtherOther | 45.97% |
Health-related expenditureHealth-related expenditure | 1.32% |
Education-related expenditureEducation-related expenditure | 0.75% |
Business travelBusiness travel | 4.92% |
OtherOther | 3.22% |
Expenditure by seasonal and...Expenditure by seasonal and border workers | 1.71% |
32.11% | |
Miscellaneous business,...Miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services | 32.11% |
10.83% | |
1.09% | |
0.58% | |
0.48% | |
0.45% | |
Telecommunications servicesTelecommunications services | 0.45% |
0.43% | |
0.38% | |
0.37% | |
Construction abroadConstruction abroad | 0.37% |
0.32% | |
Other personal, cultural, and...Other personal, cultural, and recreational services | 0.32% |
63.1 bn USD of services imported in 2023 | |
34.52% | |
29.87% | |
Miscellaneous business,...Miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services | 29.87% |
18.32% | |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 15.88% |
OtherOther | 12.45% |
Education-related expenditureEducation-related expenditure | 3.27% |
Health-related expenditureHealth-related expenditure | 0.15% |
Business travelBusiness travel | 2.45% |
OtherOther | 1.73% |
Expenditure by seasonal and...Expenditure by seasonal and border workers | 0.71% |
9.56% | |
4.10% | |
0.91% | |
0.67% | |
Other personal, cultural, and...Other personal, cultural, and recreational services | 0.19% |
0.66% | |
Telecommunications servicesTelecommunications services | 0.66% |
0.58% | |
0.47% | |
0.34% | |
Construction in the compiling...Construction in the compiling economy | 0.34% |
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
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Actualitzacions: February 2025
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