BANGKOK, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's exports grew for a 19th consecutive month in January as industrial shipments surged due to an ongoing global demand for electronic products, official data showed on Monday.
Exports, a key driver of the Southeast Asian country's economic growth, jumped 24.4 percent year-on-year last month to 31.6 billion U.S. dollars, marking the strongest expansion in four years, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Industrial product shipments soared 29.8 percent in January compared to the previous year, registering the 22nd successive month of growth, thanks to robust sales of telephones and related components, along with computers, equipment, and parts.
Meanwhile, exports of agricultural goods dropped 1.8 percent, and agro-industrial products fell 1.7 percent, as major items, particularly rice and rubber, saw a significant decline.
The data also indicated that imports expanded 29.4 percent from a year earlier to 34.9 billion dollars in January, resulting in a trade deficit of 3.3 billion dollars.
Thai exports are expected to maintain their upward trajectory in 2026, supported by the global shift toward digital infrastructure and continued investment in and development of AI data centers, the ministry said in a statement. ■
