Baht's strength puts 9% export growth target in doubt

The Commerce Ministry could revise its 9-per-cent export-growth target for this year in the second quarter if the baht's strengthening is not contained.

Last year exports rose 3.13 per cent to US$229.51 billion while imports jumped 8.22 per cent to $247.59 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $18.07 billion, the ministry reported Wednesday.

The ministry missed its 2012 export-growth target of 5-7 per cent because the euro zone's downturn stunted global trade.

In December alone, exports leaped 13.45 per cent to $18.1 billion from the same month in 2011, while imports rose 4.67 per cent to $20.46 billion, putting the monthly trade deficit at $2.36 billion.

The Nation