Thailand's exports grew for a tenth straight month in April, driven by industrial and agro-industrial shipments amid global trade tensions, official data showed on Monday.    
Exports, a key driver of the Southeast Asian country's economic growth, rose 10.2 percent year-on-year in April to 25.62 billion U.S. dollars, slowing sharply from a 17.8 percent surge in March and marking the softest pace since last December, according to the Ministry of Commerce.    
Ongoing export growth demonstrates the resilience of the Thai economy despite concerns over the impact of U.S. tariff measures, Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan told a news conference.    
Industrial shipments rose 16.6 percent in April, down from a 23.5 percent increase in the previous month, fueled by robust growth in sales of computers, gems and jewelry, and integrated circuits.    
Exports of agro-industrial goods surged 9.1 percent, while agricultural products contracted 19.6 percent, dragged down by lower rice and fruit shipments.    
The data also indicated that imports expanded 16.1 percent from a year earlier to 28.94 billion dollars in April, resulting in a trade deficit of 3.32 billion dollars.    
For the first four months of 2025, exports climbed 14 percent to 107.15 billion dollars, while imports picked up 9.6 percent to 109.39 billion dollars, yielding a trade deficit of 2.24 billion dollars.    
The kingdom is expected to continue facing risks from U.S. import tariffs in the second half of this year. Relevant government and private sector agencies have been holding ongoing discussions to prepare trade negotiation strategies and develop relief measures to mitigate potential impacts on businesses, the ministry said. – Xinhua/RSS