Exports for the full year could still grow 8% year-on-year, after rising 10.6% to US$34.3 billion in May, according to the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO).
Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the TPSO, attributed the 23rd consecutive month of export growth in May to strong demand for advanced technology products and global investment in artificial intelligence and data centre infrastructure.
Accelerated orders from importers, aimed at hedging against potential supply chain disruptions and uncertainties related to the trade policy of the United States, also contributed to the positive export performance.
In key categories, exports of agricultural and agro-industrial products declined by 7.2% year-on-year in May, marking the first contraction in three months.
Products that showed a decline included rubber, wheat products and other prepared food, animal and vegetable fats and oils, chilled and frozen chicken, and meat and edible meat offal.
