Thailand reported a significant increase in exports for June 2026, with shipments rising 20.8% compared to June of the previous year, according to the commerce ministry. The growth exceeded market projections and was accompanied by a substantial increase in imports.
Customs-cleared export data for June showed a year-on-year rise of 20.8%, outpacing the 16.85% increase anticipated by analysts. The previous month had seen exports climb by 10.6%. Imports in June recorded a 50.3% gain from one year earlier, surpassing the 37.1% increase expected by economists.
As a result of the trade imbalance, Thailand posted a $6.53 billion trade deficit for the month, wider than the $4 billion shortfall forecast in a Reuters survey.
For the first half of 2026, Thailand’s exports advanced 17.6% compared to the same period a year prior. In the full year of 2025, the country’s exports grew by 12.9%.
June shipments to the United States, Thailand’s primary export destination, increased by 44.3% year-on-year. Exports to China also increased, rising 4.9% in June from the previous year, the commerce ministry reported.
In the automotive sector, car production in June fell 7.55% compared to June 2025, totaling 120,391 vehicles, the Federation of Thai Industries stated. May had also seen a decline, with output dropping 11.43% from the year before. In contrast, domestic car sales grew by 17.26% in June over the prior year, following May’s annual growth of 10.60%.
Thailand continues to serve as the largest vehicle manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia and a significant export location for global automakers, such as Toyota and Honda. The Federation projects that car production for 2026 will rise by 3% to reach 1.5 million units.
The latest data highlights strong export performance and robust import growth, while the automotive sector remains a key industry for Thailand, with moderate growth in production projected for 2026.
