Thai Trade Deficit Widens as Imports Surge, Baht Strengthens

Thailand posted a higher-than-expected trade deficit for a second month as a jump in imports outpaced sluggish export growth, underscoring economic risks including a stronger baht that threatens competitiveness.

The trade deficit last month was $2.73 billion, exceeding the $1.36 billion forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists. The nation’s trade balance swung to a $3.4 billion deficit in October, the biggest gap since January 2023.