BANGKOK -- Thailand's customs-cleared exports rose for a second month in April, though less than expected, but the government is still confident of achieving its export target for the year. Exports rose 8.5% in April from a year earlier after March's 9.2% jump, commerce ministry data showed on Monday. A Reuters poll expected an annual rise of 11.3% in April. In January-April, exports rose 5.7% from a year earlier, the highest annual growth rate in six years, Pimchanok Vonkhorporn, an official at the Commerce Ministry, said at a briefing. The April trade numbers produced a trade surplus of only $0.06 billion, compared with a poll forecast of $0.3 billion and a $1.62 billion surplus in March.

Source: Bangkok Post May 22, 2017 07:30 UTC