The slight decrease was recorded amid the strong baht, global economic slowdown, continued trade war and an overall volatile foreign exchange.
Of the total figure, exports from Thailand accounted for THB627 billion , down 2.05 percent from the same period last year, while imports were worth THB498 billion , resulting in a trade surplus of THB129 billion.
Thailand's border trade with all four neighbours amounted to THB900 billion, down 2.96 percent from a year earlier, with exports making up THB509 billion, down 5.04 percent.
Imports were worth THB391 billion, down 0.11 percent. Thailand secured a trade surplus worth THB119 billion with the four neighbours.
Malaysia remained the biggest partner for border trade, with two-way trade hitting THB438 billion, followed by Laos (THB165 billion), Myanmar (THB164 billion ) and Cambodia (THB133 billion).
According to the ministry, transit trade with Singapore, Vietnam and southern China remained on the rise in the period, totalling THB226 billion, up 2.34 percent.
Keerati Rushchano, Director-General of the ministry’s Foreign Trade Department, said his department is committed to proceeding with activities to boost border trade and the border economies.
Despite a spate of risk factors, especially global economic uncertainties, the trade row between China and the US, and the strengthening baht, the department believes that it will drive overall trade to 15 percent year-on-year growth, with a value of THB1.6 trillion, this year.
