Help sought for Korea-bound exports
The Commerce Ministry's International Trade Promotion Department has launched a hotline at 1169 for Thai exporters facing shipping problems related to the bankruptcy of Hanjin Shipping.
In the first seven months of this year, 1.8 per cent of Thailand's exports was destined to South Korea.
In July alone, when Thailand's total export value was tuned at Bt595.98 billion, exports to South Korea were valued at Bt11.39 billion.
The collapse of the world's seventh-largest container carrier has caused havoc in global trade networks and a surge in freight rates, as more than half of Hanjin's ships have been blocked from docking with ports and lashing firms fearing they won't be paid. Some vessels have also been seized.
Reuters reported that its parent firm plans to raise 100 billion won (US$90 million) to fund the unloading of billions of dollars worth of cargo aboard vessels.
