Export figures, border trade-transit trade, July 64 exceeded 90,101 million.

Export figures July 2021

Thailand’s border trade and cross-border trade in July 2021 were positive in all 7 markets: Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, China, Vietnam and Singapore.

The country with the highest positive export figures through border trade and transit trade in July 2021 is China +126.44%, fresh fruits and dried fruits +348%, total value 15,000 million baht.

Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit, Leader of the Democrat Party, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Mrs. Mallika Boonmeetrakul Mahasuk, Advisor to the Minister of Commerce

Mr. Keerati Ratchano, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, revealed the overall figures of exports through border trade and cross-border trade combined in July 2021 with a value of 90,101 million baht, an increase of 41.70%, and the overall figures of exports through border trade and cross-border trade for 7 months totaled 591,051 million baht, an increase of 37.88%.

For exports through border trade, the 4 countries together have a value of 40,416 million baht + 10.55%. Exports through border trade in the remaining 3 countries, China, Vietnam and Singapore, have a combined value of 49,685 million baht + 83.84%, with Malaysia + 17.95%, Myanmar + 10.65%, Lao PDR + 8.08%, Cambodia + 5.12%, China + 126.64%, Vietnam + 1.63% and Singapore + 59.85%.

Mr. Jurin mentioned the factors that led to positive export figures as follows:

1. The most tangible and continuous collaboration of the Commerce Ministry, consisting of the Ministry of Commerce and the private sector, is the acceleration of the opening of border crossings. Of the total of 97 checkpoints, 44 have been opened, after being closed during the initial COVID-19 outbreak.
2. Collaborating with the private sector to proactively solve problems immediately, both at neighboring checkpoints and cross-border trade checkpoints, such as at Youyiguan checkpoint, where durian and mangosteen exports can be solved immediately on-site almost every time. In addition, there is coordination with the Chinese government by commercial and agricultural attaches, helping to increase channels at Dongxing checkpoint, helping Thailand’s fruit transportation system to be more flexible. And at times, there was news that China would suspend the import of Thai fruits, such as durian, because COVID-19 was detected in the Chinese market. Finally, it went through negotiations by commercial and agricultural attaches of China, resulting in China canceling the idea of suspending the import of Thai durian. And for longans, even though there was news that mealybugs were found, from close coordination between commercial and agricultural attaches, China currently does not suspend the import of either durian or longan.
3. The Ministry of Commerce has a policy to help SMEs breathe life into their exports, which plays an important role in making cross-border and border export figures, namely the “Loan Matching” project by financial institutions with exporting SMEs. On August 26, EXIM Bank approved special loan conditions for 151 exporting SMEs, totaling 618 million baht, to help create liquidity in making export figures through border and transit trade increase.
4. Economic recovery of trading partners and increased demand for certain products, such as Work from Home products
5. The baht has weakened by an average of 10%, making it more competitive in neighboring markets or the Chinese market.

In terms of negative factors from the COVID-19 situation, Malaysia has increased the strictness of border imports through Thailand, which has affected rubber exports and has had a continuing impact on domestic rubber prices, even though the prices are better than in the past, from 15 baht to 24 baht for the price of rubber cup lumps.

In the near future, there will still be checkpoints that are about to open. The Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade negotiated with the private sector and each province. The conclusion was to make a plan to open checkpoints with Laos in 5 provinces: Chiang Rai, Loei, Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan. As for the Pak Saeng checkpoint, Na Tal, Ubon Ratchathani Province

It is in the detailed stages and may be one of the first checkpoints to be opened. In addition, Tak Bai and Buketa checkpoints in Narathiwat Province will use the same model as the Lao border checkpoint.

This year’s target of +3.6% has exceeded expectations, as the first 7 months, from January to July, have been positive at 37.88%.

Data source: Department of International Trade