Dissecting Thailand’s International Trade: Evidence from 88 Million Export and Import Entries

Abstract

This paper uses transaction-level data from Thailand to study concentration, specialization, and fragility of export activities. The paper shows that although exports have been an integral part of the development strategy of the country for several decades, direct engagement in international trade through exports is a rare activity. Export firms are different from their nonexport counterparts. Export activities are also extremely concentrated. There is a great deal of churning in Thai exports and exporting relationships are highly fragile. The findings highlight some cautions from a micro perspective about an export-oriented development strategy, particularly regarding concentration and vulnerability.

Who are pure exporters?

“…Apaitan et al (2016), who use data from the Thai Customs Department at the Ministry of Finance, find the same pattern.World Econ. 2023;46:1759-1781.…”

Dissecting Thailand's International Trade: Evidence from 88 Million Export and Import Entries

“…We note results for imports when they are of particular interest. The full set of results for imports is presented in the working paper version of this paper(Apaitan, Disyatat, and Samphantharak 2017).5 The reason for this policy was to respond to several events that adversely affected Thailand's balance of payments: the appreciation of the Thai baht, which was fixed to the United States (US) dollar; the decrease in prices of agricultural products; and the withdrawal of US military operations after the Viet Nam War. These events reduced foreign exchange and put pressure on the country's balance of payments.…”