(Bangkok, 8th) The Thai Ministry of Commerce has announced a 'Resilience Strategy' to maintain and stabilize Thailand's export performance amid global uncertainties.
Data shows that Thailand's total international trade (i.e., exports) in 2025 reached US$339.635 billion (approximately RM1,327.9 billion), setting a new historical high, with a 12.9% increase compared to 2024. This marks the strongest growth in four years, far exceeding the previous growth target of 2%-3%.
The latest data shows that in January 2026, Thai exports continued to show strong growth, with export value reaching US$31.5731 billion, also setting a new record high, representing a year-on-year increase of 24.4% and achieving 19 consecutive months of growth.
Despite challenges such as extreme geopolitical polarization and retaliatory tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, Thailand's overall export performance remains robust.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) under the Ministry of Commerce assesses that Thai exports are facing both risks and opportunities. The main risks come from geopolitical conflicts that could reshape global production and trade supply chains, and the appreciation of the baht, which may put pressure on exports.
However, as long as the global economy gradually recovers, geopolitical tensions do not further escalate, and the electronics industry cycle continues to expand, there will still be export opportunities for Thailand. The full-year export value is expected to range between a contraction of 3.1% and growth of 1.1%, with a median forecast of a 1.1% contraction. The total export value is expected to range between US$329.1063 billion and US$343.371 billion.
However, according to the latest situation analysis, a war between the United States and Iran has broken out in the Middle East, seriously affecting the global economy and trade, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has led to increased shipping and logistics costs.
At the same time, surging oil and natural gas prices, combined with financial market and macroeconomic volatility, have further contributed to the fragility of global trade.
TPSO's analysis points out that in 2025, the structure of Thai exports will remain closely and consistently linked with major markets.
The five main markets—the United States, China, Japan, India, and Malaysia—collectively account for 48.6% of Thailand’s total export value, a significant increase compared to 38.8% in 2016.
Among them, the share of the top three markets has also risen from 31.9% to 40.0%, indicating increasingly close trade relations between Thailand and major markets, which also lays an important foundation for future strategies to diversify markets.
Overall, geopolitical conflicts, global camp polarization, retaliatory tariffs from the United States, and the war in the Middle East have all become major challenges faced by Thai exports.
Nantapong Chiralerspong, Director of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, pointed out that in this era of 'extreme polarization,' medium-sized countries like Thailand are under pressure from great power competition, and must clarify their own policy stand in a complex international situation.
The latest data shows that in January 2026, Thai exports continued to show strong growth, with export value reaching US$31.5731 billion, also setting a new record high, representing a year-on-year increase of 24.4% and achieving 19 consecutive months of growth.
Despite challenges such as extreme geopolitical polarization and retaliatory tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, Thailand's overall export performance remains robust.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) under the Ministry of Commerce assesses that Thai exports are facing both risks and opportunities. The main risks come from geopolitical conflicts that could reshape global production and trade supply chains, and the appreciation of the baht, which may put pressure on exports.
However, as long as the global economy gradually recovers, geopolitical tensions do not further escalate, and the electronics industry cycle continues to expand, there will still be export opportunities for Thailand. The full-year export value is expected to range between a contraction of 3.1% and growth of 1.1%, with a median forecast of a 1.1% contraction. The total export value is expected to range between US$329.1063 billion and US$343.371 billion.
However, according to the latest situation analysis, a war between the United States and Iran has broken out in the Middle East, seriously affecting the global economy and trade, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has led to increased shipping and logistics costs.
At the same time, surging oil and natural gas prices, combined with financial market and macroeconomic volatility, have further contributed to the fragility of global trade.
TPSO's analysis points out that in 2025, the structure of Thai exports will remain closely and consistently linked with major markets.
The five main markets—the United States, China, Japan, India, and Malaysia—collectively account for 48.6% of Thailand’s total export value, a significant increase compared to 38.8% in 2016.
Among them, the share of the top three markets has also risen from 31.9% to 40.0%, indicating increasingly close trade relations between Thailand and major markets, which also lays an important foundation for future strategies to diversify markets.
Overall, geopolitical conflicts, global camp polarization, retaliatory tariffs from the United States, and the war in the Middle East have all become major challenges faced by Thai exports.
Nantapong Chiralerspong, Director of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, pointed out that in this era of 'extreme polarization,' medium-sized countries like Thailand are under pressure from great power competition, and must clarify their own policy stand in a complex international situation.