Thai Exports Decline For Third Month

(RTTNews) - Thailand's exports declined for the third consecutive month in November and a faster-than-expected pace, data from the Commerce Ministry showed on Wednesday.

Exports fell 4.1 percent year-on-year, following a 0.7 percent drop in October and 7.1 percent slump in September. Economists had forecast a 3.55 percent decline for the month.

Imports shrunk 8.6 percent annually, after falling 5.4 percent in the previous month. Economists were looking for a 1.9 percent decrease. Imports declined for the fourth consecutive month.

The trade deficit narrowed to $557 million from $1.771 billion in October. Economists had forecast a shortfall of $1.796 billion.

In the January to November period, exports decreased 0.5 percent from last year, while imports grew 1.2 percent. The trade deficit for the eleven-month period was $21.908 billion.

The country's economic outlook has been marred by the recent political turmoil.