BANGKOK: Thailand’s customs-cleared exports likely contracted in February from a year earlier, a poll showed.
In the three preceding months, exports increased on an annual basis.
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Exports, which are pivotal for Thailand’s economy, are forecast to fall 4.0 percent in February on the year after January’s 8.8 percent rise, according to the median forecast from 10 economists polled.
In February 2016, annual shipments surprisingly jumped nearly 10.3 percent, driven by two unusual items – gold and helicopters.
Thailand’s commerce ministry aims for export growth of 5 percent this year after a tiny 0.45 percent rise in 2016, the first annual expansion in four years.
In the poll, imports in February were seen up 12.6 percent from a year earlier, after January’s 5.17 percent increase.
Thailand is expected to have a trade surplus of $2.4 billion in February. January produced an $826 million surplus.
