Economy - overview:
The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) expects the Thai economy in 2003 to expand by 6.6%, up from 6.4% in the previous forecast. In 2004, the Thai economy is expected to grow at 7.7- 8.1%, compared to the previous forecast in November of 7.5%. Positive impacts to growth in 2004 include the supplementary budget and major trading partners' improved economies. Yet, negative impacts to growth includes the effect of Avian influenza and Baht appreciation.

GDP - real growth rate : 7.7-8.1 % (2004)

Value of exports: 13.9%

Value of imports: 22.3%

Trade Balance (Bil.USD): -1.5

Current Account Balance (Bil.USD): 2.8

Current Account Balance: 1.7% of GDP

International Reserves (Bil.USD): 40.0

Inflation: 2.4%

Remark: Other indicators except GDP growth rate are calculated assuming the exchange rate of 38 Baht/US$ (2004)

Labor force: 35.05 million (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.5% (2003 est.)

Industries: tourism; textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Agriculture - products: rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans

Exports - commodities: computers and parts, textiles, rice

Exports - partners: US, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Netherlands, UK, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Germany

Imports - commodities: capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels

Imports - partners: Japan, US, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Germany, China, South Korea, Oman, Indonesia

Currency: 1 Baht (THB) = 100 Satang

Exchange rates: Baht (THB) per US$1 39.491 (2004), 42.8756 (2003), 44.1279 (2002), 43.1365 (2001), 37.349 (2000), 37.844 (1999), 41.359 (1998), 31.364 (1997), 25.343 (1996), 24.915 (1995)

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September