Exports for February were down 5.83% on the same month last year, with a total value of US$17.92 billion, permanent secretary for commerce Watcharee Wimuktayon said on Thursday.
Imports totalled US$19.18 billion, an increase of 5.27%, meaning a total trade deficit of US$1.55 billion for the month, she said.
Mrs Watcharee attributed the decline in exports to the global economic recession, particularly in the US and Japan which are Thailand’s major export markets.
The baht’s appreciation driven by the persistent financial crisis in Europe, severely affecting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), was another key factor behind the export slump, she added.
She said exports over the first two months of the year (Jan-Feb) rose from the same period last year by 4.09%, with total value of US$36.196 billion, while imports totalled US$43.24 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of US$7.04 billion.