BANGKOK, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The value of Thailand's merchandise exports fell 0.3 percent year on year in January, data from the central bank showed.
Excluding gold exports, which contracted due to a high base effect last year, the country's exports value expanded 5.5 percent from one year earlier last month, in line with improving demand from trading partners, the Bank of Thailand said.
The 0.3-percent dip, following a 4.7-percent growth in December, undershot a projected growth of 2.7 percent, as container shortage, higher transportation costs and a stronger local currency weighed on the export sector, the Kasikorn Research Center said.
The research center expected the country's export value to expand 3 percent from one year earlier in 2021.
The central bank said the Thai economy was more obviously affected in January by the new wave of the COVID-19 outbreak, which erupted in mid-December, leading to a more uneven economic recovery.
A breakdown of data showed the country's exports of automotive and parts, electrical appliances and agricultural manufacturing products recorded strong growth.
The value of merchandise imports fell 6.9 percent year on year last month, according to the central bank. Enditem