Thai exports soar 40.9% in March
Posted: 22 April 2010 1639 hrs

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BANGKOK : Thailand's exports jumped 40.9 percent to a 17-month high in March, according to official data released Thursday, in a welcome boost for an economy hit by weeks of anti-government protests.

Exports rose to 16.3 billion dollars in March as growth registered across all sectors, while imports surged 59.7 percent to 15.10 billion dollars.

The trade surplus rose to 1.15 billion dollars in March from 439 million dollars in February.

Thailand's important agriculture and processed agricultural produce sector jumped 49.2 percent on the back of rising prices and volumes of rice, cassava, sugar, frozen seafood, fruit and vegetables.

The key industries sector which groups electronics, auto and auto parts, plastics and textiles, rose more than 20 percent.

Exports to Thailand's main markets -- the United States, European Union, ASEAN and Japan -- grew more 50.1 percent.

Commerce Minister Pornthiwa Nakasai said the current political turmoil has not affected exports, and maintained a target for this year of 14 percent growth, with total export value tipped to hit 170 billion dollars.

She said that April's exports figure will likely fall to 12 billion dollars due to public holidays and the closure of European air space due to the Iceland volcano crisis, which hampered exports by air.

Thailand's political turmoil, which has seen anti-government rallies paralyse parts of the capital since mid-March, have stunted domestic demand and caused major losses in the tourism and retail industries.

- AFP /ls