Thailand Trade Surges 21.8% With FTA Partners in First Half
Thailand's trade with FTA partner countries surged 21.8% in the first half of 2025, reaching $243.7 billion, driven by strong growth in agricultural, industrial, and food exports across key markets including China, Japan, and Vietnam.
The Department of International Trade Negotiations reported that Thailand's trade with FTA partner countries grew 21.8% in the first half of 2025, reaching a value of 243.7 billion US dollars, with strong performance across Singapore, Australia, Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam, and India. Agricultural, food, and industrial products continued to expand, with FTA agreements helping to reduce trade barriers and create tariff advantages for Thai exporters seeking to expand into foreign markets.
Director-General Chotima Iamsawat stated on August 10 that despite global economic headwinds from geopolitical tensions, trade barriers, and supply chain uncertainty, FTAs remain a crucial mechanism for creating trade opportunities and maintaining Thailand's competitiveness through expanded export markets, production chain linkages, and access to essential raw materials for industry.
Trade with 18 FTA partners—including ASEAN, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Peru, and Chile—totaled 243.7 billion US dollars in January–June 2025, representing 57.3% of Thailand's global trade. Thai exports to FTA partners reached 105.5 billion US dollars, up 12.6%, while imports totaled 138.2 billion US dollars, up 30%. More than half of Thailand's trade now occurs with FTA nations, effectively reducing barriers and enabling efficient market expansion.
China remains Thailand's largest FTA trading partner at 91.5 billion US dollars, accounting for 37.6% of FTA trade, followed by Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, and India. Exports to FTA markets showed strong growth particularly to Singapore (up 74%), Australia (up 43.9%), Laos (up 36.4%), Malaysia (up 27%), Vietnam (up 20.2%), Japan (up 12.9%), and India (up 10%).
Growth was driven by high-potential product categories. Agricultural and food exports, including fresh, chilled, frozen, and dried fruits, rose 16.8%, while processed chicken increased 7.6%. Industrial exports also performed well, with gems and jewelry up 26%, circuit boards up 20.6%, computers and components up 18.5%, rubber products up 10.4%, and automobiles and parts up 3.8%.
While imports from FTA partners grew at a faster rate than exports, over 75% comprised raw materials and intermediate goods supporting investment and production, demonstrating Thailand's integration into regional supply chains and the continued demand for Thai products across FTA markets.
