Border trade falls 7.64% after crossings closed
The value of border trade in the first quarter of 2020 dropped 7.64 percent from the previous quarter to Bt264.97 billion, after measures were imposed to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. Of that figure, exports fell 5.42 percent to Bt187.564 billion while imports dropped 12.61 per cent to Bt77,406 billion, according to Kirati Ratchano, director-general of the Department of Foreign Trade.
Thai trade with Malaysia fell 27.78 percent to Bt56.475 billion. Meanwhile trade with Cambodia rose 15.01 percent to Bt48.339 billion, trade with Myanmar fell 2.9 percent to Bt48.167 billion, and trade with Laos rose 2.43 percent to Bt42.680 billion.
Trade between Thailand and southern China, as the country reopened, was up 4.88 percent to Bt28.626 billion, said the director-general.
Trade with Singapore also increased, by 14.41 percent to Bt19.701 billion. Thailand-Vietnam trade fell 27.86 percent, however, to Bt13.538 billion.
Kirati explained that the Covid-19 crisis had forced Thailand to close all but 25 of its 42 border trade posts, which had narrowed the channel for exports.
