Thailand Imports Hit Record High

Thailand’s imports surged 29.4% yoy to a record peak of USD 34.88 billion in January 2026, sharply accelerating from a 18.8% growth in the previous month and extending gains for a 20th consecutive month. It was also the fastest pace in purchases since December 2022, boosted by solid domestic demand on the back of government support measures to boost spending ahead of February's general election. Purchases grew for raw materials, semi-finished products (50.3%), capital goods (29.5%), other products (10.4%), consumer goods (7.9%), transport equipment (1.7%), while falling for fuels (-1.4%). By commodity, imports increased for circuit boards (197.9%), electrical machinery & components (60.5%), machinery & components (15.1%), jewelry (89.9%), other metal ores, scrap metal (19.3%), computers and components (12.8%), chemicals (1.9%), and home appliances (10.3%), (22.); but declined for crude oil (-5.6%), and iron, steel (-5.4%). In 2025, imports grew 12.9% to USD 344.94 billion.

Thailand’s imports rose 18.8% yoy to USD 29.28 billion in December 2025, accelerating from a 17.6% growth in the previous month and extending gains for a 19th consecutive month. It was the fastest pace in purchases since August 2022, boosted by robust domestic demand on the back of government support measures to spur year-end spending. Purchases grew for transport equipment (39.3%), capital goods (31.7%), consumer goods (27.2%), raw materials, semi-finished products (19.9%), and other products (10.2%) while falling for fuels (-17.1%). By commodity, imports increased for electrical machinery & components (60.6%), circuit boards (56.3%), home appliances (52.3%), other metal ores, scrap metal (33.5%), machinery & components (22.8%), chemicals (16.7%), and iron, steel (8.1%); but declined for crude oil (-11.5%), computers and components (-11.1%), and jewelry (-36.5%). For the full year, imports rose 12.9% to USD 344.94 billion.

Thailand’s imports rose 17.6% yoy to USD 30.17 billion in November 2025, accelerating from a 16.3% increase in the previous month and extending gains for an 18th successive month. It was the fastest pace in purchases since May, driven by resilient domestic demand as Bangkok continued to roll out government support measures to bolster spending ahead of year-end. Purchases grew for other products (69.7%), raw materials, semi-finished products (29.7%), capital goods (18.7%), transport equipment (10.0%), and consumer goods (8.2%); while falling for fuels (-16.7%). By commodity, imports increased for circuit boards (195.1%), electrical machinery & components (37.1%), machinery & components (8.7%), computers and components (6.3%), other metal ores, scrap metal (16.6%), and home appliances (14.7%); but fell for crude oil (-26.8%), and jewelry (-2.2%). For the first eleven months of the year, imports rose 12.4% to USD 315.66 billion.