Thailand's December Exports Surge 16.8%, Beating Forecasts

Thailand's customs-cleared exports surged by 16.8% year-on-year in December 2025, significantly exceeding analyst expectations of an 8.74% increase. This robust performance marks the culmination of Thailand's strongest export year in four years, with full-year exports growing by 12.9%. The impressive December figures were bolstered by a 54.3% rise in shipments to the United States USand a 4.4% increase in exports to China CN.

Despite the positive export data, Thailand's trade landscape remains complex. Imports rose by 18.8% in December, outpacing the forecast of a 15.77% increase. However, the country recorded a trade deficit of $0.35 billion, a substantial improvement over the anticipated $1.8 billion deficit. These figures reflect the ongoing impact of the 19% tariff imposed by the United States on Thai goods.