Thailand’s Trade Outlook: Support Growth for SMEs Across the Region

Thailand’s unique advantages make it a prime choice for SMEs seeking to expand their footprint:​

• Central ASEAN Location: A natural bridge connecting the CLMV nations (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam) with Malaysia, offering unparalleled access to emerging regional markets.​

• Competitive & Skilled Workforce: An experienced and adaptable labor pool provides access to skilled talent at competitive costs, ideal for manufacturing and value-added services.​

• Resilient Supply Chains: As a preferred center for nearshoring and diversification, Thailand’s robust manufacturing sectors ensure stability amid global trade shifts.​

• High Digital Adoption: A rapidly expanding digital economy, driven by the "Thailand 4.0" initiative, creates strong demand for e-commerce, high-tech goods, and digital services.​

• Supportive Government Policies: An extensive network of free trade agreements and targeted tax incentives for SMEs lower market entry barriers and enhance global competitiveness.

Thailand’s economic strength is driven by several high-potential sectors that have become the cornerstone of its export strategy. These industries offer significant opportunities for SMEs to integrate into global value chains.​

Thailand’s logistics infrastructure supports APAC SMEs:​

Suvarnabhumi Airport: Major regional air cargo hub with 1.7+ million tons annual capacity, expanding to 1.6 million tons by 2027.​

Major Seaports: Laem Chabang (Southeast Asia’s largest) and Bangkok handle millions of containers, linking to Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.​

Industrial Zones: Over 60 estates managed by IEAT, focused on EEC (Chonburi, Rayong, Chachoengsao) for automotive, electronics, and biofuels, with government incentives.​

Logistics Ranking: 34th in 2023 World Bank Logistics Performance Index, with a score of 3.5/5, highlighting strong customs, infrastructure, and timely delivery.

✔ Economy:  A key trade and manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia with a total trade turnover of US$607.9 billion in 2024, driven by strategic policies, robust infrastructure, and a central role in ASEAN supply chains for automotive, electronics, and precious metals.​

✔ Top Export Verticals: Electrical and electronic equipment (US$51.3B in 2024), automotive (projected 2.98M vehicles by 2028), gems and precious metals (US$18.4B in 2024) lead exports primarily to the U.S., ASEAN, Europe, Hong Kong, China, and Japan.​

✔ Global Reach: Connects to 220+ countries via Suvarnabhumi Airport, Laem Chabang Port, and FTAs like RCEP, AEC, and Thailand-EFTA, enhancing market access and diversification for SMEs in high-tech and value-added sectors.​

Our operations are powered by a robust flight network with 33 weekly flights from Thailand, strategically positioned across two air gateways. Supported by 24 stations, and a fleet of over 350 vehicles, our infrastructure ensures seamless global connectivity, linking you to more than 220 countries and territories worldwide with fast and reliable delivery.

The insights above only scratch the surface of what Turkey has to offer. Are you ready to take a deeper dive?​

Download our comprehensive country profile, “Thailand Strategic Trade Insight”,  to get exclusive details on Free Trade Agreements, new government tax incentives for SMEs, detailed logistics profiles for high-growth sectors, and actionable strategies to navigate the market.