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Published on August 25, 2007

"We will ask for export privileges back from the United States government after exports of televisions and radios dropped significantly this year," Export Promotion Department director-general Rachane Potjanasuntorn said yesterday.

Last month, exports to the US dropped 13.6 per cent to US$1.5 billion (Bt51.7 billion) and, for the first seven months of this year, they slipped 1.96 per cent to $10.8 billion.

The department met exporters yesterday to discuss falling overseas sales. Worried sectors include electronics and electrical appliances, plastics, printing and construction materials.

Rachane reported all exporters were confident of achieving targets this year, except for those in the television set sector.

Televisions face not only anti-dumping duties in the US but a change in consumer preference towards liquid-crystal display sets.

Other products Thailand considers have legitimate cases for GSP relief include plastics and plastic products.

According to the Customs Department, television exports fell 7.8 per cent to $1.75 billion in the first seven months of the year. Of that, sales in the US plunged 47.95 per cent to $420 million.

Garment exports to the US decreased 7.76 per cent to $853.4 million, preserved fish dropped 4.7 per cent to $503.3 million, jewellery fell 7.18 per cent to $466.4 million and plastic products were down 8.7 per cent to 159.6 million in the same period.

However, the country should still enjoy a 1-per-cent share of the total US market this year, Rachane said, meeting targets.

Automatic data processing machines sold to the US increased in value by 18.3 per cent to $1.86 billion, electronic integrated circuits grew 11.6 per cent to $421.4 million and other electronic equipment jumped 19.1 per cent to $367 million for the first seven months.

To meet an export-growth projection of 12.5 per cent to $145 billion this year, the department will work to aid exporters as well as monitor individual sectors for movements.

Rachane said the department was pumping more money into a fund to help small- and medium-sized enterprises and seeking tariff privileges to help the country hit its targets.

Exporters of several sectors affirmed they would meet their goal growth this year. Electric appliances are aiming for a 5-per-cent expansion to $15.45 billion while electronics is shooting for 15 per cent to $30.94 billion for the year.

Construction goods hope to hit 10 per cent to $6 billion, plastics 6.5 per cent to $6.8 billion and printed products 20 per cent to $1.42 billion.

Rachane said sub-prime mortgage troubles in the US should ease soon and would not have a significant impact of exports.

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation