Thailand's June Exports Rise 3.1% as AI, Data Centers Boost Demand
Thailand's June export prices grew 3.1% year-on-year, driven by surging demand for electronics and AI-related components, while import prices jumped 10% as manufacturers restocked capital goods and raw materials.
The Office of Trade Policy and Strategy (OTPS) revealed that Thailand's export and import price indices for June 2025 continued to grow compared to the same period last year but at a slower rate, in line with global manufacturing expansion. Growth has been particularly driven by the electronics and technology industries linked to artificial intelligence and data centers, while agricultural and food products maintained solid global demand alongside high gold prices and continued digital technology investment.
Thailand's June 2025 export price index stood at 114.7, representing 3.1% year-on-year growth. Export prices increased across all categories, with mineral and fuel commodities rising the most at 31.5% due to refined oil prices, while agricultural products climbed 7.4% on the back of cassava, rubber, and rice driven by tight supply and foreign market demand. Industrial goods rose 2.0% following higher gold prices, computer equipment, components, and circuit boards as demand for electronics parts related to AI and data centers surged. Agro-industry products increased 0.1% from plant and animal fats and oils, animal feed, and canned seafood products.
The June 2025 import price index reached 126.9, growing 10.0% year-on-year but decelerating due to lower crude oil prices in global markets following easing Middle East tensions. However, imports of capital goods, raw materials, and industrial components continued to expand to support domestic production and exports. Fuel commodities rose 30.2%, raw materials and semi-finished goods increased 9.1% from gold, electronics equipment, metal ores, and fertilizers, while consumer goods climbed 5.9%, capital goods rose 4.2%, and vehicles and transport equipment grew 2.5% in line with demand for manufacturing technology, automobiles, and modern components, particularly driven by the transition to electric vehicles.
The OTPS director stated that the export and import price indices are forecast to continue expanding in July 2025 but at a slightly slower pace, supported by tight supplies of key commodities and raw materials alongside elevated production costs and geopolitical risks. This is expected to keep agricultural, food, energy, metal, and gold prices higher than the previous year. Demand in advanced electronics, AI, and data center supply chains remains a key driver, particularly for raw materials, electronic components, technology minerals, and critical metals that support elevated technology industry prices. However, risks must be monitored including increased agricultural and commodity supply, potential energy price weakness if geopolitical tensions ease, slower stockpiling of raw materials and electronics components, fragile global economic conditions, and uncertainty over trade measures and tariffs from major economies, which could pressure global trade and manufacturing demand going forward.
