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Thailand: Exports grow, industries’ confidence drops
Exports rose 10% year-on-year in February, but the industries’ sentiment index fell for the first time in four months on concerns about costs.
The Commerce Ministry said on Wednesday that exports were valued at US$20.36 billion in February, up 10.3% year- on-year. Exports in the first two months of 2018 rose 13.8% to $40.47 billion. Imports last month were valued at copy9.56 billion, up 16%. The value of imports in the first two months amounted to $39.78 billion, rising by 20.1%.
Thailand posted a trade surplus of $807 million last month and $688.5 million in the first two months of this year.
However, despite export figures, Chen Namchaisiri, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, said the Thai Industries Sentiment Index was down for the first time in four months in February, to 89.9 from 91.0, in January, on the cost of raw materials and labour.
Last month confidence fell among small and medium-sized industries due to fierce competition, concerns about prices of raw materials and the rise in the minimum wage, he said.
Exporters were worried about trade barriers, which tended to increase, he said.
On the upside, large-scale industry confidence remained good, Mr Chen said.
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1432423/exports-grow-industries-confidence-drops