Bangkok: Thai agricultural products have demonstrated resilience and continued popularity in the global market, maintaining a steady income stream through exports. In the first quarter of 2025, export values are projected to exceed 100 billion baht.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Anukul Prueksanusak, Deputy Government Spokesperson, highlighted that Thailand has successfully sustained its agricultural trade and export potential on a global scale. In 2024, the nation achieved an agricultural trade value exceeding 2.5 million baht, with exports valued at 1,801,548 million baht. This marks an 8.28 percent increase, or 137,822 million baht, from 2023, showcasing Thailand's effective market expansion and responsiveness to global demand. Within the ASEAN region, Thai agricultural exports have also seen continuous growth, with a recorded value of 410,830 million baht in 2024, reflecting a 3.60 percent rise from the previous year.
The top five export products in 2024 included rice (46,065 million baht), sugar from sugarcane or other beets (38,211 million baht), water and soft drinks (27,577 million baht), raw sugar from other sugarcanes (22,434 million baht), and other non-alcoholic beverages (19,022 million baht). Key export markets for these products were Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia, with Malaysia leading at an export value of 77,321 million baht, or 18.82 percent of ASEAN agricultural exports.
Mr. Anukul further noted that from January to March 2025, Thai agricultural products and natural rubber trade in ASEAN reached a total value of 160,067 million baht, including 100,491 million baht in exports and 59,576 million baht in imports, resulting in a trade surplus of 40,915 million baht. The leading export items were raw sugar (11,656 million baht), sugar from other sugarcanes or beets (9,910 million baht), water and carbonated drinks (6,355 million baht), other non-alcoholic beverages (4,785 million baht), and other prepared foods (4,309 million baht).
Moreover, Thailand's top agricultural export markets within ASEAN continue to be Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia, with Malaysia accounting for 17.34 percent of ASEAN agricultural export value at 17,442 million baht.
"The overall picture shows that Thailand still maintains its competitiveness in the global agricultural market, especially in the ASEAN market, which plays an important role in the country's agricultural economy, both in terms of export value, product diversity, and trade surplus, which will be an important foundation for developing and pushing Thailand's agricultural sector to grow sustainably in the future," stated Mr. Anukul.