Thai exports continue to grow despite stronger baht

BANGKOK, May 13 (TNA) - Thailand's exports have continued to grow at a high level despite stronger baht, with the export growth in March leaping to more than 18 per cent, according to a latest report of the Bank of Thailand (BOT).

The country's total exports in March reached Bt434.55 billion, up 18.4 per cent from the same period of last year, although the Thai currency had appreciated by 8 per cent during late last year till the end of the first quarter this year, said the central bank's report released here on Friday.

The kingdom's total exports in March in the term of the US dollar also surged 16.2 per cent on the year-on-year basis.

These showed that the country's exports had not been affected by the stronger baht, the BOT's report indicated.

Thailand's exports of manufactured goods in March accounted for Bt377.77 billion, an increase of 16.28 per cent from the same period of last year, while those of farm and fishery products totaled Bt32.28 billion and Bt7.18 billion respectively, up 28.29 per cent and 28 per cent from the same period of 2005, said the BOT's report.

TNA
May 13, 2006