Thailand’s exports increased by 5.7% year-on-year in October 2025, according to data released by the Commerce Ministry on Tuesday. The figure came in below the 6.3% rise forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll and represented a sharp slowdown from September’s 19% surge.
Meanwhile, imports soared 16.3% year-on-year in October, far exceeding the expected 7.5% increase. This robust growth in imports contributed to a substantially wider trade deficit of $3.44 billion for the month, well above the $0.5 billion deficit predicted by Reuters.
Thailand’s manufacturing and automotive sectors continue to show strength. Car production rose 14.17% year-on-year in October, significantly outperforming September’s 4.77% increase, according to the Federation of Thai Industries. Domestic car sales followed suit, growing 24.78% year-on-year, slightly up from the previous month’s 23.82% expansion.
Despite October’s softer-than-expected export growth, the Commerce Ministry remains positive, projecting full-year export growth in the range of 10.7% to 11.4%. This outlook, cited from official sources, reflects ongoing momentum in the export sector amid shifts in global trade after President Donald Trump resumed leadership in the United States.
