Thailand's exports grew 15 percent in 2005, meeting the government's target; while the export growth this year is anticipated to reach 17.5 percent, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The country's total export last year reached 110.883 billion US dollars, a 15 percent growth from the previous year, meeting the government's target, Director-General of the Department of Export Promotion Chantra Purnariksha was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying on Tuesday.

Last year's export growth was particularly boosted by expanded shipments of Thai manufactured goods of 18.5 percent, she noted.

These included canned food, processed fruits, vegetables and chikcen, as well as frozen shrimps, automobiles and parts, computers and parts, plastic products, construction materials, gems and jewellery, printing products and cosmetics.

Chantra said that however, the country's total import in 2005 stood at 118.223 billion US dollars, a 25.7 percent year-on-year increase, spurred mainly by imports of oil (59.1 percent), capital goods (27.2 percent), as well as raw materials and semi final products (16.9 percent).

Therefore, the country still faced a trade deficit of around 7. 340 billion US dollars, she noted.

The Ministry of Commerce targets that Thailand's total export in 2006 will reach 130.288 billion US dollars, a 17.5 percent growth from last year, according to the director-general.

Source: Xinhua