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Export Market

Thailand

ISO: TH / THA

Country Profile

Capital Bangkok
Population 65.9M
GDP $526.5B (2024)
GDP per Capita $7,347
Income Level Upper-Middle Income
Currency Thai baht (THB ฿)
Language Thai
Timezone UTC+07:00
Region Asia · South-Eastern Asia

Trade Partners

Thailand Exports To

  • USA 18.0%
  • China 13.0%
  • Japan 7.0%
  • Australia 4.0%
  • Singapore 4.0%

Key exports: machine parts, integrated circuits, trucks, cars, broadcasting equipment (2023)

Thailand Imports From

  • China 26.0%
  • Japan 11.0%
  • USA 7.0%
  • UAE 6.0%
  • Taiwan 5.0%

Key imports: crude petroleum, integrated circuits, natural gas, gold, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)

Economic Overview

upper middle-income Southeast Asian economy; substantial infrastructure; major electronics, food, and automobile parts exporter; globally used currency; extremely low unemployment; ongoing Thailand 4.0 economic development

Government: constitutional monarchy

UK Trade Status

No FTA

There is currently no free trade agreement between the UK and Thailand. Standard WTO terms apply.

Trade Barriers

23 active barriers affecting UK exporters

Continued export of UK blueberries to Thailand

Following UK government engagement, UK businesses may continue to export blueberries to Thailand while waiting for an on-site audit and further assessment following Thailand's new import conditions.

Sectors: Agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and pets

Reported: 11 Mar 2025

Restrictions on employment of foreign workers

Domestic workers are given preference over overseas staff in Thailand’s domestic labour market. Regulation on the Criteria to Permit Employment of Foreign Workers B.E.2547 (2004), enforced by the Foreign Workers Administration Office (Ministry of Labour), states that applications for work …

Reported: 29 Apr 2020

Inconsistent registration standards affect UK medical device exports into Thailand

Medical devices in Thailand must be registered under the Medical Device Control Division of the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with labels in the Thai language. There’s no clear standard for the registration of medical devices. This causes inconsistencies …

Sectors: Medical devices and equipment, Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology

Reported: 22 Jul 2019

Preferential treatment of state-owned pharmaceutical firms in Thailand affecting UK exporters and investors

Thai government procurement regulation allows price advantages for state-owned enterprises and the government pharmaceutical organisations (GPO) . Hospitals are also required to purchase medicines exclusively from the GPO. Overseas businesses do not have access to those benefits.

Sectors: Healthcare services, Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology

Reported: 22 Jul 2019

Unclear selection process for the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) in Thailand

It is not clear to UK exporters how products are selected for inclusion on Thailand’s National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM). The NLEM is a list of medications used in Thailand’s hospitals and public health centres. Medications on the list …

Sectors: Healthcare services, Medical devices and equipment, Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology

Reported: 22 Jul 2019

View all 23 barriers on GOV.UK →

Geographic Region

Asia Pacific

Trading Bloc Memberships

Thailand is a member of the following trade agreements and economic blocs.

ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Union RCEP Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Trade Agreement

Export Guidance

Relevant guidance for exporting to Thailand.

Start Your Export Journey

Export to the EU after Brexit Start exporting from the UK Manage your export compliance

Also in This Region

🇦🇺 Australia FTA 🇧🇳 Brunei 🇰🇭 Cambodia 🇫🇯 Fiji FTA 🇮🇩 Indonesia 🇯🇵 Japan FTA 🇱🇦 Laos 🇲🇾 Malaysia

Official Resources

Government export support for Thailand.

great.gov.uk Market Guide → GOV.UK Country Information →
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