A Southeast Asian country found at the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula and populated with 70 million residents, the Kingdom of Thailand imported US$208.6 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That dollar amount reflects a -13.1% reduction from $240.1 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Thailand’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Geographically, Thailand is surrounded by other highly populated nations. Thailand shares land borders with Myanmar and Laos to its north, Cambodia to its east and Malaysia to its south. In addition, Thailand has common maritime borders with economic powerhouses India, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Thai imports during 2020 for each of Thailand’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for over two-thirds (69%) of total Thai import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Thai imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Thailand’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Thailand amounted to $50.2 billion or 24.1% of overall Thai imports.

That dollar amount represents a -1.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 81.8% of Thailand’s imports from the mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $15.6 billion
Machinery: $9.4 billion
Plastics: $2.6 billion
Iron and steel: $2.3 billion
Iron or steel products: $2.2 billion
Vehicles: $1.3 billion
Other chemical goods: $1.2 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.17 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.12 billion
Aluminum: $1 billion
Furniture, lighting, signs: $819.6 million
Inorganic chemicals: $719.9 million
Copper: $685.2 million
Fruits, nuts: $522.8 million
Glass: $465.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Thai imports from China under the fruits and nuts product category via a 37.7% gain in revenue, glass (up 22.9%) and electronic equipment (up 9.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Thailand’s top 15 imported products were copper (down -23.3%), inorganic chemicals (down -15.3%) and vehicles (down -10.2%).

Thailand’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Thailand amounted to $27.8 billion or 13.3% of overall Thai imports.

That dollar amount represents a -17.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 89.5% of Thailand’s imports from Japan.

Electronic equipment: $5.9 billion
Machinery: $5.1 billion
Iron and steel: $2.9 billion
Vehicles: $2.8 billion
Plastics: $1.6 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.33 billion
Iron or steel products: $1.3 billion
Copper: $962 million
Other chemical goods: $903.1 million
Rubber: $532.2 million
Organic chemicals: $366.1 million
Base metal tools, cutlery: $364.3 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $327.8 million
Aluminum: $247.7 million
Paper: $237.9 million

The only increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Thai imports from Japan under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via an 8.6% gain in revenue and copper (up 8.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Thailand’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -32.2%), base metal tools or cutlery (down -27.1%), vehicles (down -23.6%), products made from iron or steel (down -22.7%), machinery (down -21%) and medical or technical equipment: (down -19.3%).

Thailand’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Thailand amounted to $15.2 billion or 7.3% of overall Thai imports.

That dollar amount represents a -14.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 82.2% of Thailand’s imports from America.

Electronic equipment: $2.142 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $2.1418 billion
Vehicles: $2.12 billion
Machinery: $1.9 billion
Plastics: $690.8 million
Medical, technical equipment: $646.6 million
Oil seed: $502.3 million
Other chemical goods: $428.2 million
Pharmaceuticals: $382.3 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $321.5 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $314.2 million
Iron or steel products: $266.6 million
Arms, ammunition: $229.1 million
Organic chemicals: $216.7 million
Other food preparations: $208.6 million

The only increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Thai imports from the United States under the vehicles product category via a 158.1% gain in revenue and machinery (up 0.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Thailand’s top 15 imported products were arms including ammunition (down -90.1%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -55.4%), oil seed (down -17.9%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -15.3%), products made from iron or steel (down -14.8%) and electronic equipment (down -11.7%).

Thailand’s Main Imports from Malaysia

In 2020, Malaysia’s exports to Thailand amounted to $10.3 billion or 4.9% of overall Thai imports.

That dollar amount represents a -21.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 86.5% of Thailand’s imports from Malaysia.

Electronic equipment: $3.1 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $1.7 billion
Machinery: $989 million
Plastics: $622.9 million
Medical, technical equipment: $350 million
Aluminum: $307.5 million
Vehicles: $300.1 million
Iron or steel products: $271.9 million
Organic chemicals: $268.3 million
Other chemical goods: $255.6 million
Iron and steel: $199.6 million
Rubber: $157.1 million
Ships, boats: $155.7 million
Gems, precious metals: $136.2 million
Fertilizers: $128.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Thai imports from Malaysia under the ships and boats product category via a 312.9% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 24%) and fertilizers (up 13.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Thailand’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -46.6%), iron and steel as materials (down -44.6%), machinery (down -40.9%), medical or technical equipment (down -30%), vehicles (down -22%) and products made from iron or steel (down -16.3%).

Thailand’s Main Imports from Taiwan

In 2020, Taiwan’s exports to Thailand amounted to $8.3 billion or 4.1% of overall Thai imports.

That dollar amount represents a 1.5% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 92.7% of Thailand’s imports from Taiwan.

Electronic equipment: $4.8 billion
Machinery: $582.7 million
Plastics: $410.3 million
Iron and steel: $381.8 million
Fish: $243 million
Iron or steel products: $217.9 million
Copper: $204.2 million
Organic chemicals: $168.1 million
Rubber: $155.6 million
Medical, technical equipment: $108.7 million
Other chemical goods: $94.8 million
Vehicles: $87 million
Knitted or crocheted fabric: $83.8 million
Aluminum: $74.9 million
Man-made filaments: $65.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Thai imports from Taiwan under the electronic equipment product category via a 15.1% gain in revenue and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 8.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Thailand’s top 15 imported products were knitted or crocheted fabric (down -40.5%), iron and steel as materials (down -28.4%), man-made filaments (down -25.9%), vehicles (down -21.6%), aluminum (down -15.9%) and machinery (down -15.5%).

Thailand’s Main Imports from South Korea

In 2020, South Korea’s exports to Thailand amounted to $7.7 billion or 3.7% of overall Thai imports.

That dollar amount represents a -12.1% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 81.5% of Thailand’s imports from South Korea.

Electronic equipment: $1.7 billion
Iron and steel: $1.4 billion
Machinery: $669.4 million
Plastics: $606.8 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $286.1 million
Organic chemicals: $250.8 million
Rubber: $227.6 million
Iron or steel products: $219 million
Copper: $172 million
Aluminum: $139.3 million
Vehicles: $136.9 million
Books, newspapers, pictures: $134.1 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $110.8 million
Medical, technical equipment: $109.5 million
Gems, precious metals: $103.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Thai imports from South Korea under the books, newspapers and pictures product category via a 2,844% gain in revenue then products made from iron or steel (up 4.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Thailand’s top 15 imported products were gems and precious metals (down -55.7%), vehicles (down -47.5%), mineral fuels including oil (down -22.2%), machinery (down -20.9%), aluminum (down -18.8%) and organic chemicals (also down -18.8%).

Thailand’s Main Imports from Singapore

In 2020, Singapore’s exports to Thailand amounted to $7.6 billion or 3.6% of overall Thai imports.

That dollar amount represents a -1.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 94.4% of Thailand’s imports from Singapore.

Electronic equipment: $2.2 billion
Gems, precious metals: $1.3 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $950.2 million
Machinery: $428.8 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $401.8 million
Plastics: $375.7 million
Organic chemicals: $335.8 million
Other food preparations: $231.3 million
Other chemical goods: $191.3 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $185.3 million
Paper: $182.9 million
Ships, boats: $137.7 million
Medical, technical equipment: $113.7 million
Iron or steel products: $89.3 million
Rubber: $85.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Thai imports from Singapore under the gems and precious metals product category via a 56.7% gain in revenue, miscellaneous food preparations (up 16.5%), cereal or milk preparations (up 14.1%) and electronic equipment (up 12.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Thailand’s top 15 imported products were machinery (down -31.8%), mineral fuels including oil (down -30.1%), rubber (down -24%), plastics as a material (down -21.1%), products made from iron or steel (down -17.5%) then perfumes and cosmetics (down -12.9%).

Thailand’s Main Imports from Indonesia

In 2020, Indonesia’s exports to Thailand amounted to $5.9 billion or 2.8% of overall Thai imports.

That dollar amount represents a -20.1% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 80.8% of Thailand’s imports from Indonesia.

Mineral fuels including oil: $1.7 billion
Vehicles: $673.2 million
Machinery: $515.4 million
Electronic equipment: $504.5 million
Copper: $182.4 million
Fish: $162.2 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $146.5 million
Organic chemicals: $135.8 million
Paper: $119.1 million
Other chemical goods: $115 million
Plastics: $113.7 million
Fruits, nuts: $104.9 million
Iron or steel products: $93.6 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $84.9 million
Iron and steel: $80.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Thai imports from Indonesia under the fruits and nuts product category via a 229.1% gain in revenue, fish (up 71.2%), animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 57.8%) then perfumes and cosmetics (up 15.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Thailand’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -54.5%), vehicles (down -45%), organic chemicals (down -33%), products made from iron or steel (down -27.2%), plastics as a material (down -25.6%) and paper (down -22.9%).

Thailand’s Main Imports from the UAE

In 2020, the United Arab Emirates’ exports to Thailand amounted to $5.6 billion or 2.7% of overall Thai imports.

That dollar amount represents a -26.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.4% of Thailand’s imports from the United Arab Emirates.

Mineral fuels including oil: $5.1 billion
Aluminum: $182.1 million
Plastics: $75.2 million
Iron and steel: $62.3 million
Gems, precious metals: $38.5 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $31.7 million
Zinc: $11.3 million
Sugar: $10.9 million
Iron or steel products: $7.6 million
Machinery: $6 million
Other chemical goods: $4.9 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $3.8 million
Live trees and plants: $3.8 million
Paper: $3.4 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Thai imports from the United Arab Emirates under the sugar product category via a 9,148% gain in revenue, live trees and plants (up 141.5%), paper (up 111.8%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 93.7%), soaps, lubricants and candles (up 31.7%) and plastics as a material (up 23.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Thailand’s top 15 imported products were gems and precious metals (down -68%), machinery (down -60.9%), food waste and animal fodder (down -41.7%), iron and steel as a material (down -37.5%), products made from iron or steel (down -28.5%) and aluminum (down -27.6%).

Thailand’s Main Imports from Vietnam

In 2020, Vietnam’s exports to Thailand amounted to $5.5 billion or 2.6% of overall Thai imports.

That dollar amount represents a -0.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 81% of Thailand’s imports from Vietnam.

Electronic equipment: $1.6 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $430.5 million
Iron and steel: $391.1 million
Machinery: $317.8 million
Vehicles: $275.2 million
Fish: $202.9 million
Fruits, nuts: $190.7 million
Other chemical goods: $177.3 million
Plastics: $157.2 million
Iron or steel products: $154 million
Medical, technical equipment: $134 million
Footwear: $133.9 million
Coffee, tea, spices: $109.3 million
Other food preparations: $103.8 million
Copper: $94.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Thai imports from Vietnam under the copper product category via a 273.6% gain in revenue, miscellaneous food preparations (up 49.8%), iron and steel as materials (up 48.9%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 48.2%), fruits and nuts (up 44.6%) then coffee, tea and spices (up 22.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Thailand’s top 15 imported products were iron or steel (down -27%), footwear (down -17.6%), fish (down -15.8%) and electronic equipment (down -14.3%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Thailand, Borders of Thailand

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Thailand’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries