BANGKOK, Thailand – The Department of Foreign Trade under Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce revealed that exports using Free Trade Agreement (FTA) benefits during January to April 2025 totaled USD 28.83 billion, marking a 13.46% increase compared to the previous year. ASEAN countries remain the top export destinations under FTAs, followed by ASEAN-China, ASEAN-India, Thailand-Japan, and Thailand-Australia agreements.
Arada Fuengthong, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, explained that FTA-utilized exports accounted for 79.45% of total eligible export value. The highest export value was to ASEAN under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), reaching USD 10.26 billion with a 66.34% utilization rate. This was followed by ASEAN-China FTA (ACFTA) with USD 7.03 billion and a 91.02% utilization rate, ASEAN-India FTA (AIFTA) at USD 4.48 billion with 84.29%, Thailand-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) at USD 2.06 billion with 75.57%, and Thailand-Australia FTA (TAFTA) at USD 1.85 billion with 59.39%.
Top export products using FTA privileges included vehicles with diesel or semi-diesel engines under 5 tons (USD 2.11 billion), unprocessed platinum (USD 1.66 billion), synthetic rubber mixed with natural rubber (USD 1.14 billion), fresh durian (USD 955.57 million), and other unprocessed platinum forms (USD 760.76 million).
Agricultural and processed agricultural exports using FTAs amounted to USD 6.90 billion, representing 23.92% of total FTA-utilized exports. Leading items included fresh durian, cane sugar, prepared chicken, frozen poultry meat, and fresh fruits such as rambutan, longan, and pomegranate. Industrial goods accounted for USD 21.94 billion or 76.08%, with vehicles, platinum, synthetic rubber, and wall or ceiling air conditioners among the top products.
Among the 12 FTAs, five showed significant export growth: ASEAN-India FTA exports to India rose by 159.18%, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) increased 23.59%, ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) rose 8.39%, ASEAN-China FTA exports to China increased 4.91%, and ASEAN-Korea FTA exports to Korea grew 3.86%. The rise in FTA utilization is attributed to an overall increase in Thailand’s exports from USD 93.90 billion in 2024 to USD 106.79 billion in 2025.
Arada emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to supporting Thai businesses by promoting FTA utilization. The Department of Foreign Trade has organized 8 out of 10 planned seminars to educate SMEs on leveraging FTAs to compete globally, with sessions already held in Bangkok, Rayong, Songkhla, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Buriram. The remaining seminars are scheduled for Lamphun and Chonburi in July and August 2025.
Furthermore, the ministry is preparing businesses for new FTAs with Sri Lanka, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and Bhutan, aiming to diversify export markets and reduce dependence on any single country.
