Thai August exports rise 18.4% on year

Sep 28, 2007 - Thailand's exports rebounded strongly in August, rising 18.4 per cent from a year earlier as shipments to Asian and European markets surged, central bank data showed on Friday.

Economists polled by Reuters this week had forecast a 17.6 per cent increase in exports compared with a rise of 6.2 per cent in July.

August imports rose 12.1 per cent from a year earlier, the data showed, below expectations of a 13.9 per cent increase and compared with a 3.7 per cent rise in July.

Record exports of US$13.82 billion and record imports of US$12.85 billion produced an August trade surplus of US$973 million, above expectations of a US$700 million surplus.

August's current account surplus widened to US$735 million from US$367 million in July, but was below the US$900 million analysts had expected.

Industrial production in August rose higher-than-expected 10.2 per cent from a year earlier after a revised 7.5 per cent growth in July and 4.1 per cent in June.