Thailand’s import and export activities
Thailand is located at the center of Southeast Asia and borders several countries, including Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos, and Myanmar. As a result, it has become an important trade gateway connecting Southeast Asia with major economic regions of the world, such as China and India.
With a coastline of more than 3,200 km, Thailand has favorable conditions for the strong development of international maritime transport routes. Major ports such as Laem Chabang, Bangkok, and Map Ta Phut play an important role in the country’s logistics and international trade system. In addition to maritime transport, Thailand has also invested in road, rail, and air transport infrastructure, facilitating domestic goods circulation as well as import and export activities.
Thailand’s international trade has expanded steadily over the past decade. According to ITC Trade Map statistics, Thailand’s total merchandise trade increased from USD 413.2 billion in 2015 to USD 687.63 billion in 2025. During 2015–2025, imports generally grew faster than exports, resulting in a trade deficit of USD 11.85 billion in 2025. This reflects Thailand’s increasing demand for imported goods and highlights the potential for many exporting countries, including Viet Nam, to expand their presence in this market.
Table: Thailand’s trade turnover, from 2015 to 2025
Unit: Billion USD
|
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Imports
|
202.06 |
195.70 |
225.00 |
251.10 |
240.14 |
208.62 |
269.10 |
306.26 |
292.05 |
310.16 |
349.74 |
|
Exports |
211.18 |
213.56 |
235.87 |
249.92 |
245.38 |
229.28 |
267.49 |
284.11 |
280.09 |
299.25 |
337.89 |
|
Trade balance
|
9.12 |
17.86 |
10.87 |
-1.18 |
5.24 |
20.66 |
-1.61 |
-22.15 |
-11.97 |
-10.91 |
-11.85 |
Source: ITC Trade Map, 2026
Imports
During 2015–2025, Thailand’s import value increased considerably, from USD 202.1 billion in 2015 to USD 349.74 billion in 2025.
Thailand’s import structure shows strong demand for machinery, equipment, and production inputs, particularly mineral fuels. Electrical and mechanical machinery account for around 37% of total imports, while mineral fuels represent nearly 13%. Thailand also imports substantial amounts of pearls and precious stones, transport equipment, iron and steel, and copper.
Table: Top 10 import products of Thailand in 2025
|
No. |
Thailand’s main import products |
Import value in 2025 (USD billion) |
Share of total imports |
|
1 |
Chapter 85: Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles |
88.35 |
25.26% |
|
2 |
Chapter 27: Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes |
45.28 |
12.95% |
|
3 |
Chapter 84: Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof |
41.26 |
11.80% |
|
4 |
Chapter 71: Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal, and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin |
29.59 |
8.46% |
|
5 |
Chapter 87: Vehicles other than railway or tramway rollingstock, and parts and accessories thereof |
12.27 |
3.51% |
|
6 |
Chapter 72: Iron and steel |
11.98 |
3.43% |
|
7 |
Chapter 39: Plastics and articles thereof |
11.70 |
3.35% |
|
8 |
Chapter 73: Articles of iron or steel |
9.46 |
2.70% |
|
9 |
Chapter 90: Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof |
8.73 |
2.50% |
|
10 |
Chapter 74: Copper and articles thereof |
6.88 |
1.97% |
Source: ITC Trade Map, 2026
Exports
Over the past decade, Thailand’s exports have also generally trended upward, although more slowly than imports, increasing from USD 211.2 billion in 2015 to USD 337.89 billion in 2025.
Thailand’s export structure is concentrated mainly in electrical and mechanical machinery and transport equipment. These three product groups together account for more than 46% of Thailand’s export value. Thailand also exports large volumes of rubber products, pearls, plastics, mineral fuels, and agricultural products such as meat, fresh fruit, and cereals
Table: Top 10 export products of Thailand in 20
|
No. |
Thailand’s main export products |
Export value in 2025 (USD billion) |
Share of total exports |
|
1 |
Chapter 85: Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles |
62.55 |
18.51% |
|
2 |
Chapter 84: Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof |
61.32 |
18.15% |
|
3 |
Chapter 87: Vehicles other than railway or tramway rollingstock, and parts and accessories thereof |
34.30 |
10.15% |
|
4 |
Chapter 71: Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal, and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin |
26.65 |
7.89% |
|
5 |
Chapter 40: Rubber and articles thereof |
20.62 |
6.10% |
|
6 |
Chapter 39: Plastics and articles thereof |
13.72 |
4.06% |
|
7 |
Chapter 27: Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes |
8.03 |
2.38% |
|
8 |
Chapter 16: Preparations of meat, of fish, of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, or of insects |
7.07 |
2.09% |
|
9 |
Chapter 08: Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons |
6.59 |
1.95% |
|
10 |
Chapter 90: Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof |
6.33 |
1.87% |
Source: ITC Trade Map, 2026
Source: Center for WTO and International Trade - VCCI
