Thailand's exports soar

Thailand's exports soar

BANGKOK (DPA): Thailand's exports in the first quarter of 2000
reached US$17.1 billion, a 30.3 per cent jump over the same
period last year, government officials said Wednesday.

In the January to March period, imports also increased 21.6
per cent to reach $13.9 billion, leaving the kingdom with a trade
surplus of $3.2 billion, said Finance Ministry spokesman Sathit
Limpongphan.

Thailand's leading exports items during the first quarter of
2000 included computers and computer parts, electrical
appliances, plastic products, integrated circuits (ICs),
garments, vehicles and auto parts, jewellery, rice, canned
seafood and sugar.

Leading imports items were electrical machinery, chemicals,
machinery, ICs, iron, computers and accessories, vehicles,
textiles, steel and scientific equipment, said Sathit.