Thailand's FTA Trade Benefits Hit 1.57 Trillion Baht in First Half
Thailand's exporters reaped 48.07 billion US dollars in free trade agreement benefits during the first half of 2025, a 7.33% rise driven by strong shipments of durian, vehicles, and industrial goods to ASEAN and China.
The Department of Foreign Trade reported that the value of trade benefits used under free trade agreements (FTA) from January to June 2025 totaled 48,069.03 million US dollars, a 7.33% increase from the same period last year, with an 80.83% utilization rate of eligible export value under FTA frameworks.
Arada Fuongtong, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, disclosed that ASEAN exports under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) ranked first at 15,937.55 million US dollars with a 67.50% utilization rate. Second was the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) at 14,264.11 million US dollars with a 94.50% utilization rate. Third was the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA) at 6,110.17 million US dollars with a 78.73% utilization rate. Fourth was the Thailand-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) at 3,819.69 million US dollars with an 85.86% utilization rate, and fifth was the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) at 3,027.47 million US dollars with a 59.03% utilization rate.
The top five products utilizing FTA benefits during January to June 2025 were fresh durian, vehicles for freight transport, synthetic rubber blended with natural rubber, precious stone jewelry made from precious metals, and gold, silver, and components made from precious metals.
Among agricultural products, the top five utilizing FTA benefits were fresh durian, prepared chicken meat, sugar from other sources, chilled frozen chicken pieces and parts, guava, mango, and mangosteen, with a combined value of 13,149.59 million US dollars or 27.36% of total FTA utilization. Industrial products led by vehicles for freight transport, synthetic rubber blended with natural rubber, precious stone jewelry, gold and silver jewelry, and copper scrap totaled 34,919.43 million US dollars or 72.64% of total FTA utilization.
Arada stated that amid global economic volatility, energy price pressures, and US trade policy uncertainty, modern commerce requires reducing regulatory barriers and creating a trade-friendly environment. Government and private sectors must work closely together. The government will accelerate FTA promotion to strengthen Thai businesses' competitiveness, while the private sector must adapt quickly, add value to products and services, emphasize quality and standards, promote product differentiation, and prioritize domestic raw materials and traceable Thai origins to build confidence and expand market access.
The department conducted 12 FTA benefit promotion activities across 12 provinces during the 2025 fiscal year and will continue creating trade opportunities for Thai businesses by using FTA as a key mechanism to connect them to potential global markets.
