That dollar amount results from a 30.5% gain compared to $229.3 billion five years earlier for 2020.
Year over year, the overall value of Thai exports rose 6.8% compared to $280.1 billion in 2023.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2024, Thailand uses the Thai baht which slipped by -1.4% against the US dollar from 2023 to 2024. Thailand’s weaker currency made Thailand’s exports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively less expensive for international buyers.
Thailand’s 5 biggest export products by value in 2024 were computers, cars, phone devices including smartphones, automobile parts or accessories, and unwrought gold. In aggregate, that quintet of major exports accounted for 18.8% of overall exports sales from Thailand. That relatively low percentage suggests a diversified range of exported goods.
Thailand ranks among the top countries for exports of computers and gold.
Geographic Insights about Thailand’s Exports
The latest available country-specific data shows that 69.8% of products exported from Thailand was bought by importers in: United States of America (18.3% of Thailand’s total), mainland China (11.7%), Japan (7.8%), Australia (4.1%), Malaysia (also 4.1%), India (3.9%), Vietnam (3.9%), Hong Kong (3.6%), Singapore (3.56%), Indonesia (3.14%), Cambodia (3.07%) and the Philippines (2.6%).
From a continental perspective, 58.9% of Thailand’s exports by value was delivered to fellow Asian countries while 20.5% was sold to importers in North American. Thailand shipped another 11.2% worth of goods to buyers in Europe.
Smaller percentages went to customers in Oceania (4.8%) led by Australia and New Zealand, Africa (2.33%) then Latin America (2.26%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.
Given Thailand’s population of about 70.3 million people, its total $299.2 billion in 2024 exports translates to about $4,300 for every resident in the East Asian country. That per-capita dollar amount surpasses the average $4,000 one year earlier in 2023.
Thailand’s Top 10 Exports
The following export product groups represent the highest dollar value in Thai global shipments during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Thailand.
- Electrical machinery, equipment: US$51.1 billion (17.1% of total exports)
- Machinery including computers: $47.6 billion (15.9%)
- Vehicles: $33.6 billion (11.2%)
- Rubber, rubber articles: $19.2 billion (6.4%)
- Gems, precious metals: $18.3 billion (6.1%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $13.3 billion (4.4%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $10.2 billion (3.4%)
- Meat/seafood preparations: $7 billion (2.3%)
- Fruits, nuts: $6.6 billion (2.2%)
- Cereals: $6.5 billion (2.2%)
Thailand’s top 10 export product categories accounted for 71.3% of the overall value of global Thai shipments.
Gems and precious metals was the fastest grower among the top 10 categories, up by 26% since 2023 led by greater gold revenues.
In second place for improving export sales was cereals which was up by 23.6% propelled by its number one commodity, rice.
Thailand’s shipments of machinery including computers posted the third-fastest gain in value, up by 17.8%.
The leading decliner among Thailand’s top 10 export categories was mineral fuels including oil which fell -6.6%.
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more granular view of exported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section below.
Searchable List of Thailand’s Most Valuable Export Products
The following searchable table displays 100 of the most in-demand goods shipped from Thailand during 2024. Shown beside each product label is its total export value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2023.
| Rank | Thai Export Product | Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computers, optical readers | $15,005,975,000 | +47.5% |
| 2 | Cars | $12,148,140,000 | +3.2% |
| 3 | Phone devices including smartphones | $11,564,483,000 | +35.6% |
| 4 | Automobile parts/accessories | $8,845,730,000 | +2.8% |
| 5 | Gold (unwrought) | $8,710,856,000 | +46.7% |
| 6 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $8,649,709,000 | -9.8% |
| 7 | Trucks | $8,619,265,000 | +5% |
| 8 | Processed petroleum oils | $7,978,554,000 | -9.6% |
| 9 | Rubber tires (new) | $7,367,132,000 | +5.9% |
| 10 | Air conditioners | $6,858,006,000 | +6.8% |
| 11 | Rice | $6,370,330,000 | +24.5% |
| 12 | Natural rubber | $4,976,381,000 | +37.4% |
| 13 | Electrical converters/power units | $4,832,884,000 | +10.2% |
| 14 | Jewelry | $4,832,181,000 | +8.6% |
| 15 | Miscellaneous fruits (fresh) | $4,388,362,000 | -5.2% |
| 16 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $3,689,393,000 | -29% |
| 17 | Printing machinery | $3,388,528,000 | +10.3% |
| 18 | Fish, caviar (preserved/prepared) | $3,200,613,000 | +15.2% |
| 19 | Miscellaneous meat (preserved/prepared) | $3,092,307,000 | +7.2% |
| 20 | Ethylene polymers | $3,074,674,000 | -10.9% |
| 21 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $3,014,267,000 | +21.4% |
| 22 | Miscellaneous animal feed preparations | $3,003,548,000 | +23.4% |
| 23 | Computer parts, accessories | $2,908,875,000 | +24% |
| 24 | Synthetic rubber | $2,888,442,000 | +10.8% |
| 25 | TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras | $2,832,209,000 | +6.6% |
| 26 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $2,550,972,000 | +7.8% |
| 27 | Motorcycles | $2,495,532,000 | -13.8% |
| 28 | Sugar (cane or beet) | $2,341,032,000 | -31% |
| 29 | Refrigerators, freezers | $2,160,498,000 | +5.3% |
| 30 | Precious/semi-precious stones (unstrung) | $2,091,293,000 | +5.2% |
| 31 | Air or vacuum pumps | $1,946,441,000 | -2.7% |
| 32 | Non-alcoholic drinks (not water/juice/milk) | $1,655,843,000 | +6.7% |
| 33 | Insulated wire/cable | $1,653,076,000 | +3.8% |
| 34 | Starches, inulin | $1,633,585,000 | +9% |
| 35 | Electrical machinery | $1,624,278,000 | -4.4% |
| 36 | TV receivers/monitors/projectors | $1,566,413,000 | +7.6% |
| 37 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $1,562,491,000 | -11% |
| 38 | Other food preparations | $1,501,565,000 | +12.2% |
| 39 | Turbo-jets | $1,499,424,000 | +188.6% |
| 40 | Clothing, accessories (vulcanized rubber) | $1,492,833,000 | +17.2% |
| 41 | Engines (diesel) | $1,439,158,000 | -6% |
| 42 | Poultry meat | $1,383,777,000 | +1.9% |
| 43 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $1,348,732,000 | +0.2% |
| 44 | Sawn wood | $1,329,219,000 | +6.3% |
| 45 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $1,326,767,000 | +5.5% |
| 46 | Printed circuits | $1,320,843,000 | +1.2% |
| 47 | Washing machines | $1,280,492,000 | +8.2% |
| 48 | Diamonds (unmounted/unset) | $1,203,945,000 | -6.8% |
| 49 | Copper waste, scrap | $1,151,852,000 | +20.7% |
| 50 | Piston engine parts | $1,141,061,000 | +1.8% |
| 51 | Solid-form sugars, fructose, glucose, lactose | $1,137,805,000 | +26.3% |
| 52 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures | $1,120,774,000 | +9.2% |
| 53 | Optical fiber cables, sheets, plates | $1,118,012,000 | +3% |
| 54 | Mixed condiments, sauces, seasonings | $1,053,997,000 | +8.2% |
| 55 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $1,045,739,000 | +2.1% |
| 56 | Propylene/olefin polymers | $1,045,477,000 | +3.7% |
| 57 | Piston engines | $1,044,529,000 | -40.9% |
| 58 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $1,024,612,000 | +0.7% |
| 59 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $1,000,653,000 | +4.2% |
| 60 | Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation) | $996,063,000 | -6.20% |
| 61 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $977,899,000 | +18.6% |
| 62 | Miscellaneous preserved fruits | $967,128,000 | +9% |
| 63 | Fruit and vegetable juices | $955,270,000 | +30.9% |
| 64 | Modified starches, dextrins | $948,421,000 | +2.3% |
| 65 | Cyclic hydrocarbons | $943,898,000 | +24% |
| 66 | Electric motors, generators | $926,845,000 | +22.7% |
| 67 | Polycarboxylic acids | $904,598,000 | +6.1% |
| 68 | Copper wire | $902,774,000 | +6.7% |
| 69 | Palm oil | $862,740,000 | +2% |
| 70 | Lignite fiberboard including wood | $853,104,000 | +0.5% |
| 71 | Electro-medical equip (e.g. xrays) | $836,847,000 | +11.2% |
| 72 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $834,933,000 | -14.5% |
| 73 | Light vessels, fire boats, floating docks | $833,441,000 | +164% |
| 74 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $833,093,000 | -1.5% |
| 75 | Microphones/headphones/amps | $805,493,000 | +14.9% |
| 76 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $801,951,000 | +12.1% |
| 77 | Electric water heaters, hair dryers | $799,031,000 | -26.2% |
| 78 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $787,587,000 | +29.5% |
| 79 | Aluminum waste, scrap | $771,899,000 | +36.5% |
| 80 | Motorcycle parts/accessories | $757,181,000 | +13.1% |
| 81 | Vulcanized rubber items | $757,079,000 | +1.2% |
| 82 | Pasta, couscous | $735,705,000 | +6.7% |
| 83 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $730,210,000 | +8.4% |
| 84 | Crustaceans (including lobsters) | $722,504,000 | -5.5% |
| 85 | Miscellaneous furniture | $694,018,000 | +26% |
| 86 | Frozen fruits, nuts | $693,050,000 | -8.9% |
| 87 | Electrical lighting/signaling equpment, defrosters | $679,844,000 | +5% |
| 88 | Dates/figs/pineapples/mangoes/avocadoes/guavas | $672,599,000 | +1.8% |
| 89 | Electric ignition/start equipment | $668,202,000 | +5.3% |
| 90 | Cases, handbags, wallets | $667,168,000 | +1.1% |
| 91 | Hair preparations | $665,034,000 | -7% |
| 92 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $657,023,000 | +9.7% |
| 93 | Ball, roller bearings | $643,352,000 | -1.3% |
| 94 | Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries | $634,034,000 | +7.6% |
| 95 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs) | $632,435,000 | -3.4% |
| 96 | Crustaceans, molluscs (preserved/prepared) | $624,128,000 | -5.9% |
| 97 | Copper tubes, pipes | $620,875,000 | +22.3% |
| 98 | Fibrous cellulosic pulps | $619,133,000 | -9.3% |
| 99 | Aircraft, spacecraft | $595,049,000 | -44.8% |
| 100 | Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers | $592,154,000 | -1.3% |
These 100 exported goods were worth a subtotal of US$230.5 billion or over three-quarters (77%) by value for all products exported from Thailand during 2024.
Major Products Generating Highest Surpluses for Thailand
The following types of Thai product shipments represent positive net exports or a trade balance surplus. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports.
In a nutshell, net exports represent the amount by which foreign spending on a home country’s goods or services exceeds or lags the home country’s spending on foreign goods or services.
- Vehicles: US$22.7 billion (Up by 21.7% since 2023)
- Rubber, rubber articles: $16.1 billion (Up by 15.8%)
- Machinery including computers: $11.2 billion (Up by 19.8%)
- Meat/seafood preparations: $6.6 billion (Up by 8.7%)
- Fruits, nuts: $5 billion (Down by -10.8%)
- Cereals: $4.7 billion (Up by 46.2%)
- Sugar, sugar confectionery: $3 billion (Down by -24.4%)
- Wood: $2.9 billion (Up by 3.4%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $2.6 billion (Down by -17.3%)
- Vegetable/fruit/nut preparations: $2.2 billion (Up by 14.4%)
Thailand has highly positive net exports in the international trade of automobiles featuring cars and trucks creating larger surpluses than auto parts and motorcycles. These cashflows indicate Thailand’s strong competitive advantages under the product category labeled vehicles.
Major Products Causing Greatest Deficits for Thailand
Thailand incurred an overall -US$10.8 billion trade deficit for 2024, reducing by -9.5% from the -$12 billion deficit during 2023.
Below are exports from Thailand that result in negative net exports or product trade balance deficits. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on home country Thailand’s goods trail Thai importer spending on foreign products.
- Mineral fuels including oil: -US$41.4 billion (Down by -6.2% since 2023)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: -$14.5 billion (Up by 54%)
- Iron, steel: -$9.5 billion (Down by -10.5%)
- Gems, precious metals: -$3.4 billion (Down by -460.3%)
- Other chemical goods: -$3.21 billion (Down by -17.9%)
- Articles of iron or steel: -$3.18 billion (Up by 33.4%)
- Pharmaceuticals: -$2.45 billion (Down by -3.5%)
- Fertilizers: -$2.33 billion (Up by 15.5%)
- Aluminum: -$2.28 billion (Up by 20.1%)
- Oil seeds: -$2 billion (Down by -3.1%)
Thailand has highly negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits for the mineral fuels category. Historically, Thailand’s greatest trade shortfalls arise from crude oil, petroleum gases and coal.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate Thailand’s competitive disadvantages in the international fossil fuel market but also represent key opportunities for Thailand to improve its position in the global economy through focused innovations in alternative energy sources.
Thailand’s Main Export Companies
Fifteen Thai corporations rank among Forbes Global 2000. Below is a sample of the major companies headquartered in Thailand that Forbes included.
- PTT Global Chemical (diversified chemicals)
- PTT PCL (energy)
- Siam Cement (specialized chemicals)
- Thai Beverage (beverages)
- Thai Oil (oil, gas)
- Total Access Communication (telecommunications)
According to global trade intelligence firm Zepol, the following companies are examples of smaller Thai exporters.
- British Millerain Thailand (textile fabrics, vulcanized rubber, coconut yarn)
- Dana Spicer Thailand (automotive parts, latex, rubber transmission belts)
- Dole Thailand (pineapples, plastic boxes/cases, fruit mixtures)
- Minson Enterprises Thailand (footwear, skates, sporting equipment)
- Thai Agri Foods Public (non-alcoholic beverages, nuts, fruit/vegetable juices)
In macroeconomic terms, Thailand’s total exported goods represent 16.9% of its overall Gross Domestic Product for 2024 ($1.772 trillion valued in Purchasing Power Parity US dollars). That 16.9% for exports to overall GDP per PPP in 2024 compares to 17.7% for 2023. Those percentages suggest a relatively decreasing reliance on products sold on international markets for Thailand’s total economic performance, albeit based on a short timeframe.
Another key indicator of a country’s economic performance is its unemployment rate. Thailand’s unemployment rate averaged 1.1% for 2024, up from an average 1% in 2023 according to International Monetary Fund metrics.
See also Thailand’s Top 10 Imports, Thailand’s Top 10 Major Export Companies, Thailand’s Top Trading Partners and Top Asian Export Countries
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on March 17, 2025
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on March 17, 2025
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on March 17, 2025
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 17, 2025
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on March 17, 2025
Richest Country Reports, Key Statistics Powering Global Wealth. Accessed on March 17, 2025
Wikipedia, Gross domestic product. Accessed on March 17, 2025
Wikipedia, List of Companies of Thailand. Accessed on March 17, 2025
Wikipedia, Purchasing power parity. Accessed on March 17, 2025
X-rates.com, Exchange Rates: Euro to US Dollar (monthly average 2024). Accessed on March 17, 2025
Zepol’scompany summary highlights by country. Accessed on March 17, 2025