Thai exports may decline 1.5% this year on virus impact - shippers' council

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Thai exports may decline 1.5% this year on virus impact - shippers' council

 

FILE PHOTO: People shop at a supermarket inside a department store in central Bangkok, Thailand, December 28, 2016. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's exports may contract 1.5% this year, hurt by the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on demand and supply chains, a Thai shipping association said on Tuesday.

 

Exports could drop 3.3% in the first half from a year earlier, hurt by lower shipments to China, Thailand's second-biggest export market, Ghanyapad Tantipipatpong, chairwoman of Thai National Shippers' Council, told reporters.

 

However, the group is maintaining its export target of zero to 1% growth for this year in the hope that shipments pick up in the second half if the situation returns to normal, she said.

 

Exports, a key driver of Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, fell 2.65% last year amid global trade tensions and a strong baht <THB=TH>.

(Reporting by Kitiphong Thaichareon; Writing by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-03

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[unamazedloso]

Another conviniant excuse. Would have nothing to do with the baht, lack of trust with foreign investments, etc..., etc.........

[christophe75]

I wholeheartedly... disagree.

 

According to my own calculations (and watchout ladies, I use a Cray 72)... Thailand's exports may contract 1.7123983 % this year.

 

This world needs desperately... precision.

 

Afterall, we are in Thailand. And some BS virus is not going to shatter our precious forecasts. 

 

And our wet dreams.

 

Crotte. Zut.

[RichardColeman]

Everything I have bought that was made in Thailand fell apart in Thailand - usually within a month. People can buy Chinese rubbish cheaper than Thai rubbish

[Isaan sailor]

The regimes alliance with communist China—and subsequent strong baht, has brought about this collapse in exports.

Thailand must reap what they sow.