Thailand’s trade with FTA partners rises 21.8% to $243.7 billion in first half of 2026

FTA partners account for 57.3% of Thailand’s trade

Thailand’s trade with its 18 free trade agreement partners reached $243.669 billion in the first six months of 2026, an increase of 21.8% from the same period a year earlier, according to Bangkok Biz News and Nation TV. The total represented 57.3% of Thailand’s trade with the world, underlining the importance of preferential markets to the country’s exporters, manufacturers and buyers of industrial inputs.

Exports to FTA partners rose 12.6% to $105.494 billion, while imports increased 30.0% to $138.175 billion. The figures imply a merchandise trade deficit of $32.681 billion with these partners during the period. Chotima Iamsawasdikul, director-general of Thailand’s Department of Trade Negotiations, said more than 75% of the imported value consisted of raw materials, intermediate goods and capital goods supporting investment and production. These included electrical machinery and components, integrated circuits, mechanical machinery, chemicals, iron, steel and related products.

China remains the largest FTA trading partner

China was Thailand’s biggest FTA trading partner, with bilateral trade of $91.513 billion. It accounted for 37.6% of Thailand’s total commerce with FTA partners. Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and India followed, combining roles as major export destinations and manufacturing bases linked to Thailand’s supply chains.

Export growth varied considerably by destination. Shipments to Singapore increased 74.0%, followed by Australia at 43.9%, Laos at 36.4%, Malaysia at 27.0% and Vietnam at 20.2%. Exports to Japan grew 12.9%, while those to India rose 10.0%. The broad geographical spread suggests that the expansion was not limited to a single market, although the supplied data do not specify how much each destination contributed to the increase in export value.

Agriculture, food and industrial shipments expand

Growth covered both consumer and industrial products. Exports of fresh, chilled, frozen and dried fruit increased 16.8%, while processed chicken shipments rose 7.6%. Among manufactured goods, gems and jewelry grew 26.0%, integrated circuits 20.6%, and computers, equipment and components 18.5%. Rubber products increased 10.4%, while vehicles, equipment and components recorded a more moderate gain of 3.8%.

The Department of Trade Negotiations plans to pursue additional market access in the second half of 2026. It intends to advance Thailand-European Union, Thailand-South Korea and ASEAN-Canada FTA negotiations, upgrade existing arrangements including the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement, and move a comprehensive Thailand-Peru FTA toward signature. The department also plans to work with other ASEAN members on supply-chain resilience. For companies operating in Thailand, the immediate issue will be whether the sharp rise in imported production inputs translates into additional manufacturing output and exports, rather than a persistently wider trade gap.