Thailand’s customs-based exports rose for a third straight month in October, up 8.0 percent from a year earlier, the commerce ministry said on Monday, short of expectations.
The reading compared with a forecast for a 9.3 percent year-on-year increase for October in a Reuters poll, and followed September’s 2.1 percent rise.
October imports rose 10.2 percent year-on-year, beating a forecast rise of 6 percent, resulting in a trade deficit of $0.83 billion for the month, compared with a forecast surplus of $0.53 billion.
In the January-October period, exports declined 2.7 percent from a year earlier while imports dropped 4.6 percent and the trade deficit stood at $6.67 billion.
Earlier this month, Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said exports were expected to contract less than 1 percent this year before rising 1.99 percent next year.
Reuters
