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Thai exports pay price for US-China trade war


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Thai exports pay price for US-China trade war

By PHUWIT LIMVIPHUWAT 
THE NATION

 

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A customer inspects a Huawei smartphone at a Huawei store in Bangkok, Thailand, 21 May 2019. // EPA-EFE PHOTO

 

US markets the new hope after shipments slump to a 24month low last month.

 

THAI EXPORTS contracted in April by 2.6 per cent year on year, hitting their lowest level in 24 months, impacted by the US-China trade war, the Commerce Ministry said yesterday, adding it was setting its sights on replacing Chinese goods in the US market to make up for the decline in shipments. 

 

Exports in April were valued at US$18.6 billion (Bt594 billion).

 

“The contraction in exports was largely due to the trade tensions between the US and China, which affected various Thai shipments to China,” said Pimchanok Vonkorporn, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) under the Commerce Ministry.

 

She was speaking yesterday at a press conference on the state of Thailand’s international trade. The world’s two giant economies have been locked in a bitter dispute over trade in goods and technology. US-China trade tensions showed signs of escalating after a series of retaliatory tariff hikes by the two countries were implemented, starting with the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff by the US on US$250 billion (Bt6.38 trillion) worth of Chinese goods on May 10.

 

From January to April this year, Thai exports to China have fallen by 8.1 per cent year on year. The drastic fall in shipments has led to a trade deficit of $1.45 billion. In the first four months of this year, Thai exports declined by 1.9 per cent. 

 

Exports of manufactured goods took a serious hit last month from the decline in global trade and the ongoing trade war. Sales of computers and parts fell by 10.6 per cent, automotive and parts fell by 4 per cent and machinery and parts fell by 12.3 per cent.

 

This is because these manufactured goods are part of the supply chain affected by the tariffs imposed by the two economic powers, the director-general stated. 

 

To achieve flat year-on-year performance in the first four months of this year, Thai exports needed to achieve $20.4 billion, but fell short by almost $2 billion, according to the trade official. 

 

The Commerce Ministry is yet to lower its annual export growth target of 8 per cent for 2019.

 

Auto industry faces challenges

 

Automobiles, a key export of the Kingdom, have taken a hit in the past four months as a result of changing market trends. Many countries are importing fewer vehicles from Thailand in favour of importing electric cars from other countries,” Pimchanok said. 

 

For example, Australia used to be a key buyer of Thai vehicles and auto parts in the past decade. However, Thai automotive exports to Australia have been falling this year, as Australia has shifted its emphasis to electric vehicles from other markets, she explained.

 

From January to April, Thai exports of vehicles, auto parts and accessories to Australia fell by 15 per cent year on year. 

 

“Automotive manufacturers in Thailand will have to adapt to this trend in order to maintain their market share, as electric cars are becoming more popular,” she said. 

 

“Going forward, the TPSO will channel more of Thai exports to the US market, which grew by 25.7 per cent in the past four months. Thai producers will have to be quick in finding key opportunities |to replace Chinese goods in the US market amid the trade conflict,” she suggested. 

 

Goods, which have seen strong growth in the US market, include garments, fruit and household appliances. Meanwhile, Thai goods with strong potential for growth in the Chinese market include agricultural products such as processed foods and fruit. 

 

“However, the increase in the export of agricultural and consumer goods cannot compensate for the losses that the manufacturing sector has suffered as a result of the trade war,” Pimchanok said. 

 

“The Commerce Ministry urges exporters to mitigate risks by entering into long-term contracts with their trading partners to secure their transactions and minimise the uncertainties caused by the trade war,” she said.

 

By focusing more on long-term contracts, the flow of capital in the Thai economy will also be more stable, helping to reduce the volatility of the baht. Pimchanok predicts the baht will not appreciate to more than Bt31 to the US dollar in 2019. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/business/30369844

 

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This article is complete BS

 

The reason Thai exports are down is because the Thai baht has increased in value pretty much 20% over the last 3 years and continues to rise

 

Why ?

 

Because the money in Thailand is buying up and investing overseas - they don't give a &&&& about the Nations economy - there is a point when it will hit a wall - what is saving Thailand right now is Global volatility 

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The baht is too strong; I know let's force these long stay foreigners to tie up 800,000 for five months every year in Thai banks and force them to take compulsory health insurance provided by Thai companies.

 

Excuse me where are you going?

 

Well what's Vietnam got that Thailand hasn't?

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Thailand has been digging a hole for itself for a long time.Yes the Baht ,too strong,everybody broke,no money,business dying,rice /rubber  try flogging that on world markets, (probably do) at a loss.Elections,what elections?military have an iron grip,nobody dare complain......communism in its raw form

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2 hours ago, smedly said:

This article is complete BS

 

The reason Thai exports are down is because the Thai baht has increased in value pretty much 20% over the last 3 years and continues to rise

 

Why ?

 

Because the money in Thailand is buying up and investing overseas - they don't give a &&&& about the Nations economy - there is a point when it will hit a wall - what is saving Thailand right now is Global volatility 

The Thai baht hasn't increased in value by 20% over the past 3 years against a basket of currencies, with the exception of one currency, the pound sterling.....and it is not baht strength, but pound weakness due to Brexit, that is the issue. You are confusing Britain with the world and inflating its importance in world affairs. 

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2 hours ago, smedly said:

This article is complete BS

 

The reason Thai exports are down is because the Thai baht has increased in value pretty much 20% over the last 3 years and continues to rise

 

Why ?

 

Because the money in Thailand is buying up and investing overseas - they don't give a &&&& about the Nations economy - there is a point when it will hit a wall - what is saving Thailand right now is Global volatility 

Jesus, where do you get from ? 20% in 3 years ? You mean the Bhat was 25/26 Baht to the dollar 3 years ago ... derrr .... try 15 years ago ++ .... the reason that the economy is slipping in Thailand my friend is the control under the Military Govt. ... new investments from Large Multi Nationals are at an all time low, nobody wants to invest in a Country controlled by the Military,  take the small example of the GoT closing down the Australian invested Gold Mine Chartry mine ... no reason, no excuses ... now moths years of both the Investors including the Australia Govt. asking why ? If that was never a warning to overseas investors I don't know what would be ! 

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1 hour ago, mikebell said:

The baht is too strong; I know let's force these long stay foreigners to tie up 800,000 for five months every year in Thai banks and force them to take compulsory health insurance provided by Thai companies.

 

Excuse me where are you going?

 

Well what's Vietnam got that Thailand hasn't?


This made me spit my coffee... hilarious and dead on right.  Thanks for the morning jolt.  ????

 


 

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5 hours ago, webfact said:

Automotive manufacturers in Thailand will have to adapt to this trend in order to maintain their market share, as electric cars are becoming more popular,” she said.

Thailands achillies heel... they have no influence on the automotive trade.. 

they are merely the pawn in Japans master plan.

If Japan wish to push EV's in Thailand then they will do OK if not then auto sales will keep on dropping as countries seek environmentally friendly alternative cars from other sources! 

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5 hours ago, webfact said:

US markets the new hope after shipments slump to a 24month low last month

So NOW they want the US to bail them out. After conniving and cheating with China and thumbing their nose at Americans and stealing software, films, TV shows, clothes brands, they see the US as their savior???  Hah, hah, hah. Time to put them in the same tariff category as China.

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With regard to the thai baht, when I originally put 800,000 baht into an account for my 'visa' it cost me 25,000 Australian (real) dollars, If I had to do it today, it would cost 37,000 AUD.

A similar trend has occurred in the British pound and the Canadian dollar.

The Baht has increased.

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47 minutes ago, British Bulldog said:

new investments from Large Multi Nationals are at an all time low, nobody wants to invest in a Country controlled by the Military,  take the small example of the GoT closing down the Australian invested Gold Mine Chartry mine ... no reason, no excuses ... now moths years of both the Investors including the Australia Govt. asking why ? If that was never a warning to overseas investors I don't know what would be ! 

Without getting involved emotionally, fact is, the Chatree mine issue has not and will not stop other foreign companies from investing into Thailand nor has the issue related to Hopewell Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System.

Also, Thailand is still the second largest economy in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.

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6 hours ago, webfact said:

THAI EXPORTS contracted in April by 2.6 per cent year on year, hitting their lowest level in 24 months, impacted by the US-China trade war, the Commerce Ministry said yesterday,

I remember clearly the Commerce Ministry saying at the time that USA - China trade tariffs were first being mooted, that it would have ZERO impact on Thai trade and the Thai economy.

At the time i thought, mmm these people really are idiots.

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1 hour ago, fantom said:

With regard to the thai baht, when I originally put 800,000 baht into an account for my 'visa' it cost me 25,000 Australian (real) dollars, If I had to do it today, it would cost 37,000 AUD.

A similar trend has occurred in the British pound and the Canadian dollar.

The Baht has increased.

With the Euro also, 20% maybe not in 3 years but in 5 years 

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4 hours ago, wisperone said:

They need to sell more forest mushrooms to China.  Sorry Chiang Mai.

Nope, Chiang Mai may be the key - exporting polluted air to China - a win win ...

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2 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

The Thai baht hasn't increased in value by 20% over the past 3 years against a basket of currencies, with the exception of one currency, the pound sterling.....and it is not baht strength, but pound weakness due to Brexit, that is the issue. You are confusing Britain with the world and inflating its importance in world affairs. 

The Baht has increased of 20% against the Euro, maybe not in 3 but in 5 years ! It is a general tendency 

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“The baht will not appreciate to more than 31 baht to the dollar in 2019” HA HA, sorry but that’s already happened a few times including this morning it fluctuated to 32.01 baht to the dollar earlier this morning but now it’s fluctuated back down to 31.98. Lately it’s been staying above 31.9 baht to the dollar and holding stable. Just last month it was 31.5 baht to the dollar now it’s holding steady at just barely below 32 baht to the dollar between 31.95 and 31.98 and occasionally it does jump above 32 baht to the dollar. It’s looking a lot better lately and I agree this article is wrong but not for the same reasons that some people are saying. Unfortunately you can’t trust local media information regarding economics or politics right now.


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6 hours ago, smedly said:

This article is complete BS

 

The reason Thai exports are down is because the Thai baht has increased in value pretty much 20% over the last 3 years and continues to rise

 

Why ?

 

Because the money in Thailand is buying up and investing overseas - they don't give a &&&& about the Nations economy - there is a point when it will hit a wall - what is saving Thailand right now is Global volatility 

The Thai baht today is not strong against the dollar historically. Three years ago at 35-36 it was weak because of the uncertainty of the man who cannot be named.

There is a drop in trade because Thailand manufacturers parts and sells them to China which has been hit by the tariffs. Currently I know some Chinese in Thailand trying to buy factories to diversify the risk and then ship good to USA from Thailand without the tariffs. I respect your opinion but I think it is off base unless you have inside information about trade and currency. 

FYI. I am not a Trump fan but have done trade deals with China for many years. He is absolutely correct to try and correct the Chinese trading monopoly ship before it is too late. Obama never had the nerve to address the issue because prices in USA will increase for many products. I am not saying Obama is bad or Trump is good. I am no fan of any person or politician.

 

But Thailand is doing very well financially in Asia. The only thing that will rock Thailand’s boat is an uprising by the people (red) or the young Thais who are not enjoying the fruit of Thailand’s bounty. 

The biggest smartest investors in the world are trying to invest in and figure out the Thailand EEC. If Thailand  can resolve its potential for revolution Thailand will be the next Shenzhen or Guangzhou. And that is a place my friend where you will need more money to live and stay and will feel unwanted if you are barely getting by now. You will enjoy it if you have excess cash for spending and do not mind be treated as if you are lucky to be able to live here.  It if you think prices are high now wait until the EEC is finished and Thailand has a true middle class and no longer needs any of us. 

Have a great day????

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This could just be the start of a new SE Asia currency crisis

 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-21/kyle-bass-says-he-s-very-long-dollars-in-bet-against-hong-kong

 

Kyle Bass Says He's ‘Very Long Dollars’ in a Bet Against Hong Kong

 

“We are very long dollars and that means we are short Southeast Asian currencies, and we are focused on Hong Kong,” Bass told Bloomberg TV on Tuesday.

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3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Thailands achillies heel... they have no influence on the automotive trade.. 

they are merely the pawn in Japans master plan.

If Japan wish to push EV's in Thailand then they will do OK if not then auto sales will keep on dropping as countries seek environmentally friendly alternative cars from other sources! 

Indeed Japan invested well and with foresight in the development of the infrastructure in Thailand, especially roads and road bridges, that is the very same roads on which the Japanese branded automobile is and will continue to be used on... I'm not sure about their infrastructure investment in Australia or their plans in that respect.   

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