BANGKOK, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's exports continued their expansion for an 18th straight month in December 2025, mainly driven by ongoing growth in industrial products, particularly electronics and electrical appliances, official data showed on Friday.
Exports, a key driver of the Southeast Asian country's economic growth, grew 16.8 percent year-on-year last month to 28.93 billion U.S. dollars, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Industrial shipments surged 20.3 percent in December compared to the previous year, marking the 21st successive month of growth, thanks to strong sales of telephones and related components, along with computers, equipment, and parts.
Meanwhile, exports of agricultural products dropped 0.6 percent, and agro-industrial shipments rose 6.8 percent.
The data also indicated that imports expanded 18.8 percent from a year earlier to 29.28 billion dollars in December, resulting in a trade deficit of 352 million dollars.
For the whole of 2025, exports climbed 12.9 percent to 339.64 billion dollars, registering the highest expansion rate in four years, while imports picked up 12.9 percent to 344.94 billion dollars, yielding a trade deficit of 5.31 billion dollars.
Thai exports are projected to grow moderately this year, reflecting the clearer impact of U.S. tariff measures and further adjustments in the global trade regime amid intensifying geopolitical tensions, which are affecting global production and trade structures, the ministry said in a statement.
However, increased global demand for technology and artificial intelligence-related products, concerns over food security, and the growth of emerging markets are key supporting factors going forward, the statement said. ■
