Exporting guide to Thailand
Access to new markets
Thailand’s geographical setting makes the country a hub for UK businesses looking to access opportunities in the Greater Mekong sub-region. It’s a good strategic location for exporting to Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma) and southern China.
There are already a large number of British VAT-registered businesses exporting to Thailand with openings for SMEs as well as large corporations.
Top five UK goods exported to Thailand, in the four quarters to the end of Q2 2022
| Goods | Value (£million) |
|---|---|
| Miscellaneous electrical goods (capital) | |
| Cars | |
| Pulp & waste paper | |
| Metal ores & scrap | |
| Mechanical power generators (intermediate) |
Source:
ONS Trade in goods: country-by-commodity exports
Last updated: November 2022
Download the latest trade and investment factsheet for Thailand.
Top five UK services exported to Thailand, in the four quarters to the end of Q2 2022
| Service | Value (£million) |
|---|---|
| Other Business Services | |
| Travel | |
| Financial | |
| Intellectual property | |
| Insurance and Pension |
Source:
ONS UK trade in services: service type by partner country, non-seasonally adjusted
Last updated: October 2022
Download the latest trade and investment factsheet for Thailand.
Total import value (into the UK from Thailand) and export value (from the UK into Thailand) over time
| Year | Imports (£billion) | Exports (£billion) | Total trade (£billion) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 5.8 |
| 2017 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 6.4 |
| 2018 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 6.9 |
| 2019 | 4.2 | 2.3 | 6.5 |
| 2020 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 5.3 |
| 2021 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 4.7 |
Source:
ONS UK total trade: all countries, seasonally adjusted
Last updated: October 2022
Total trade is the sum of all exports and imports over the same time period.
Download the latest trade and investment factsheet for Thailand.
Thailand: at a glance
Economic growth
1.5%
Actual figure (IMF, 2021)
The UK is 7.4% (IMF, 2021, projected figure)
GDP per capita
$7,232
Actual figure (IMF, 2021)
The UK is $47,329 (IMF, 2021, projected figure)
Currency
Thai baht
Business languages
Thai
You may need a translator
Time zone
GMT + 7
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Check for trade barriers
Trade barriers, such as tariffs or taxes, can raise costs, cause delays, or even stop you from exporting. Check for any issues that may impact your business when exporting.
Check duties and customs
Find information on how to export goods from the UK. View the duties, rules, restrictions, and the documents you need for your products.
Next steps
DIT can advise you on doing business abroad, and help put you in touch with other people who can help such as lawyers and distributors.
