2011 exports stay above target
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Thanks to the mild 2 per cent contraction in December export, Thailand's annualised export value in 2011 showed a huge increase from the previous year.
The total export value went up by 17.2 per cent to US$228.82 billion, even higher than the Commerce Ministry's 15 per cent target.
According to the ministry, shipment in December alone fell by 2 per cent to $17.01billion, due to the floods which hit the manufacturing sector hard.
Commerce Permanent Secretary Yanyong Phuangrach said Thailand locked in trade surplus of $335 million last year, on the back of the import value of $228.49 billion.
The import value increased 24.9 per cent year on year.
In December alone, it rose 19.1 per cent to $19.14 billion, resulting in trade deficit of $2.13 billion in a single month.
