Thailand's exports rise 3.6 pct in February

BANGKOK, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's exports expanded for the seventh consecutive month in February thanks to a recovery in the global manufacturing sector and consumer confidence, official data showed on Tuesday.

Exports, a key driver of the Southeast Asian country's economic growth, rose 3.6 percent last month from a year earlier to 23.38 billion U.S. dollars, slowing from a 10-percent jump in January, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce.

A breakdown of the data revealed that exports of agricultural products increased 7.5 percent from a year earlier last month, owing to 53.6 percent growth in rice and 31.7 percent gain in rubber shipment values, while agro-industrial goods shrank 9.2 percent.

Industrial product shipments rose 5.2 percent year on year in the cited month, driven by a 24.9-percent rise in computer, equipment and parts exports.

The data also indicated that Thailand's imports rose 3.2 percent from a year earlier to 23.93 billion dollars in February, resulting in a trade deficit of 554 million dollars.

Looking ahead, demand for food security will continue to support Thai agricultural export growth. However, uncertainties stemming from the slow recovery of major trading partners, drought affecting agriculture, geopolitical risks, and exchange rate fluctuations pose additional challenges, the ministry said in a statement.