BANGKOK  – Thai exports of computers and components rose in the 1st quarter of 2020 to Bt128 billion, making the country the top exporter of computers, components among Asean nations, said Department of Trade Negotiations director-general Auramon Supthaweethum. “The a rising demand for computers came from increasing online activities amid the Covid-19 lockdown worldwide.” In the same period last year, …

The Thai Trade Centre (TTC) in Hong Kong said the price of Thai jasmine rice in the city has risen after people began hoarding supplies, while the import of Thai rice to Hong Kong rose by 2 to 3 tonnes in the first quarter of the year. Chanunpat Pisanapipong, executive director of TTC in Hong Kong, said the pandemic and …

The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) authorised the export of 330 tonnes of face masks in January and February when the items were in short supply and declared controlled products, according to the Customs Department. The department had no power to stop the shipments because the exporters held a licence under the Commerce Ministry’s regulations, said department spokesman Chaiyut Khamkhun. …

The Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani, responded to the lifting of Indonesia from the list of developing countries by the United States (US) by saying that it did not have to cause excessive fear, but instead had to boost Indonesia’s competitiveness. “Indonesia has so far been included as a middle-ranked country, so indeed it must continue to increase competitiveness,” she …

Customs-cleared exports in January unexpectedly rose for the first time in six months, increasing 3.35% from a year earlier, boosted by higher shipments of gold and oil-related products, the commerce ministry said on Monday. January’s figures compared with a Reuters poll forecast for a fall of 3.0% in shipments, a main driver of Thai growth, and against December’s 1.28% drop.  …

The Internal Trade Department has banned the unauthorised export of face masks to ensure an adequate domestic supply, but outbound travellers are allowed to take a limited number with them. Director-general Whichai Phochanakij said on Friday the new restrictions, which related to coronavirus concerns, were effective immediately. They closed a loophole some parties exploited to export face masks without prior …

Foreign Trade Department, announced 3.17 million tonnes of the total will be white rice, shipped primarily to the Philippines, Angola, Benin, Cameroon and China, with parboiled rice making up 2.23 million tonnes and Thai hom mali rice 1.1 million tonnes. The remainder is glutinous rice and other types of grains. Thailand is expected to ship 7.5 million tonnes of rice …