Thread: Thai exports hit new high as world economy improves

BANGKOK, 21 July 2017 (NNT) - The Ministry of Commerce has reported that exports in the first half of 2017 have hit a new high, thanks to global economic recovery.

Exports during the first six months have jumped 7.8 percent year-on-year to a six-year high, generating 113 billion US dollars in revenue. June exports soared by 11.7 percent in a fourth month of gains. Turnover last month topped 20 billion dollars.

Agricultural and agro-industrial exports, including sugar, frozen poultry and rubber, have seen growth for eight straight months. Industrial exports, particularly electronic parts, plastics and rubber, have also risen for four months in a row.

June imports rose by 13.7 percent to over 18 billion dollars, leading to a trade surplus of 1.9 billion dollars. The country has spent more than 100 billion dollars on imports in the first half of the year, but managed to achieve a surplus of 6.9 billion dollars.

The Ministry of Commerce speculates that the country’s exports will continue to trend upwards in the second half of the year to reach its 5 percent growth target, as a result of global economic pickup and a hike in agricultural commodities.

http://nwnt.prd.go.th/CenterWeb/News...O6007210010018

To put that in perspective:-

Not making it: Thailand’s economy

Jul 31st 2017

Today South-East Asia’s second-biggest economy will report another month of trundling industrial activity. Once a pillar of growth, Thailand’s export-oriented industrial economy has been sliding sideways for years. Creeping de-industrialisation began in 2010, when manufacturing’s share of GDP was 31%. By 2016 it was down to 27%. The ruling generals are planning a manufacturing revival (“Thailand 4.0”), but it is claptrap. For Thai businesses it is easier to make money in property or food, where competition is low, innovation less important and returns high. To deal with rising automation, the country has to stay cheap or build a highly skilled workforce. Both have proved impossible. A strong baht, military rule and fading foreign interest have not helped; in 2016 FDI inflows slumped to $1.6bn, compared with Vietnam’s $12.6bn. In future, the role of services, including tourism, will only rise: last year Bangkok was the most visited city on Earth.



https://espresso.economist.com/e22c6...50738b15f3e533

As it might be towards so many instances - depends on reportage, sources, bias, and perspectives.

Makes perfectly good sense that the Thai government, and it's controlling news outlets, will be promoting everything positively goodness and light. Continuing to abide by their management of fantasy.

Whereas, for every Thai propagandized promotion of things looking up, there are 20 real and demoting stories and analysis that counter such claims.

The reality stands: The Regime hasn't a clue of what it is doing, nor ever has. The continued operations of an existing self-contained/serving oligarchical rule does not bide well for a general overall healthy economy.