Thai exports up 18.6% through June

Thai exports up 18.6% through June    The value of Thai exports rose 17.7 percent in June to $12.9 billion from the same month in 2006 despite a strong bah, the Bangkok Post reported Wednesday.
   For the first six months of the year, Thailand’s exports rose 18.6 percent year-on-year to $71.59 billion.
   Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet said Tuesday that the increase in exports has been helped primarily by the agriculture, agro-industry and industrial product sectors. Exports of agricultural and agro-industrial products increased 20.4 percent to $10.4 billion, with industrial products rising 17.5 percent to $47.7 billion.
   Krirk-krai said export performance in the second half was expected to remain good despite the high baht.
   'We strongly believe that the country’s export-growth target of 12.5 percent to $145.96 billion is achievable this year, as the second half is normally considered the peak season for exports,' he said.