Thai transit trade tops THB1 trillion as electronics demand grows
Thailand’s combined border and transit trade grew 18.8% to THB1.76 trillion in the first nine months of 2026, with exports and imports both rising.
- Thailand's transit trade value surpassed THB 1 trillion in the first nine months of 2026, reaching THB 1.09 trillion, a 39.3% increase from the previous year.
- The significant growth was primarily driven by rising overseas demand for technology and electronics products.
- Key electronic exports fueling this surge included telephones, computers and equipment, and hard disk drives.
- Growth was particularly strong in transit trade with Singapore and Vietnam, where demand for technology and electronics increased substantially.
Thailand’s transit trade continued to grow strongly, supported by rising overseas demand, particularly for technology and electronics products.
Its value exceeded THB1 trillion in the first nine months of 2026, while combined border and transit trade grew by nearly 20%.
Arada Fuangtong, director-general of the Department of Foreign Trade, said Thailand’s combined border and transit trade totalled THB220.908 billion in September 2026, up 50.8% year on year.
Exports rose 51.8% to THB113.770 billion, while imports increased 49.7% to THB107.138 billion, leaving a trade surplus of THB6.632 billion.
This brought combined border and transit trade for January–September 2026 to THB1.76 trillion, an increase of 18.8%.
Exports grew 16.6% to THB978.105 billion and imports rose 21.6% to THB786.207 billion, giving an overall trade surplus of THB191.898 billion.
Border trade with Thailand’s four neighbouring countries totalled THB80.741 billion in September, up 24.4%.
Exports stood at THB43.072 billion and imports at THB37.669 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of THB5.403 billion.
Malaysia was the largest border trade market at THB39.972 billion, up 49.6%, followed by Laos at THB24.539 billion, up 1%, and Myanmar at THB16.230 billion, up 16.8%.
Border trade between Thailand and Cambodia remained at zero.
Key border exports included diesel worth THB3.821 billion, other refined petroleum products worth THB1.864 billion and other industrial products worth THB1.652 billion.
This brought border trade over the first nine months to THB672.124 billion, down 4.2%.
Exports fell 9.3% to THB375.250 billion, while imports increased 3.2% to THB296.873 billion.
Transit trade with third countries reached THB140.167 billion in September, up 71.7%.
Exports rose 79.7% to THB70.698 billion, while imports increased 64.4% to THB69.468 billion.
China was the largest transit trade market at THB59.365 billion, up 37.5%, followed by Singapore at THB37.023 billion, up 150.8%, and Vietnam at THB15.556 billion, up 102.5%.
Leading exports included telephones and equipment worth THB15.977 billion, computers and other equipment worth THB12.704 billion, and hard disk drives worth THB9.642 billion.
This brought transit trade over the first nine months to THB1,092.189 billion, up 39.3%.
Exports rose 41.8% to THB602.855 billion, while imports grew 36.3% to THB489.334 billion.
Arada attributed September’s strong growth in combined border and transit trade to the 71.7% expansion in transit trade, particularly with Singapore and Vietnam, where demand for technology and electronics products increased.
Transit exports to China also rose 7.9%, supported by key products including hard disk drives and fresh durians.
Border trade with neighbouring countries also received support from Malaysia, with exports valued at THB18.741 billion, up 30.46%, and imports at THB21.231 billion, up 72%.
Key exports remained electronics products, including computers and other equipment, as well as circuit boards.
