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 Commerce Permanent Secretary Siripol Yodmuangcharoen said the export value in the month was tuned at US$11.87 billion, down 18.6 per cent on year. In percentage, the drop is the highest in 6 years.

 He noted that aside from the global economic crisis, Thai exporters also witnessed a cut in their product prices - agricultural and industrial. Meanwhile, the export industry suffered a loss of $1.3 billion due to the airport closure. In the few months prior to November, average export value by air exceeded $4 billion but it dropped to $2.7 billion in the month. Biggest sufferers are in the electronics, electrical appliances and jewellery industries.

 Still, the ministry is positive that the growth rate of 2008 export value would be at least 18 per cent to $179 billion.

 To counter further risks next year, exporters would be encouraged to look to new markets as well as attend trade fairs.

   Last month, exports of all sectors including agro-industry, industrial sector, and fuel and others dropped by 13.5 per cent, 18.8 per cent, 26.9 per cent respectively. According to the Export Promotion Department, export via air transportation had been worth US$4 billion a month in the past few months before November. But the closure of two airports had brought down export value via the channel dropped to $2.7 billion in November.

   Rachane Potjanasuntorn, director-general of the department, said that electronic and parts, electronic appliances, jewellery, lens, garments, and fruits are the hardest hit due to the airport closure.

   Fifty per cent of electronic circuit and parts export relies mainly on air transportation, followed by 17 per cent of gems and jewellery products, 10 per cent of electronic appliances, and other garments, lens, and fresh fruits.

   Export to all major markets and new target markets also fell last month by 19.2 per cent to traditional markets and by 17.9 per cent to new target markets.

   Export to the US, the EU, and Japan - the most important markets - accounted for 34.6 per cent of the total export value. The figures sank largely last month by 14.5 per cent, 16.7 per cent, and 8.4 per cent respectively. Exports to new markets also dropped, except to India which grew 35.2 per cent, Eastern Europe 2.6 per cent, and the Middle East 0.7 per cent.

   Exports to China were down 36.3 per cent, Africa 24.7 per cent, to Latin America 8.2 per cent, to Australia region 19.3 per cent, to the South Korea 32.6 per cent, to Indochina and Burma 13.8 per cent.

      Rachane said that the ministry will focus on promote export to new markets next year to compensate losses from traditional markets. The potential new markets are chiefly Russia, the Middle East, and Africa.

   Products that should continue to grow are food and agricultural goods as essential goods.