Thailand’s exports jumped 18.7% year-on-year to USD 35.2 billion in March 2026, accelerating sharply from February’s 9.9% increase — the weakest growth in three months — and underscoring the sector’s resilience despite a steep decline in shipments to the Middle East. Exports of industrial products surged 21.4%, extending their growth streak to a 24th consecutive month, supported by robust gains in computers and equipment (34.2%), telephones and components (166.6%), machinery and parts (16.6%), and electrical transformers (29.6%). By contrast, exports of automobiles and auto parts fell 3.5%.
Shipments to the United States, Thailand’s largest export market, soared 41.9% year-on-year, while exports to China slipped 1.1%. Exports to the Middle East, however, tumbled 57.1%, reflecting the impact of the war involving Iran. For the first quarter of 2026, overall exports were up 17.6% compared with the same period in 2025. The government in Bangkok has said it is closely monitoring developments in the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to mitigate potential economic fallout.
