globaltraffic.earth

Trade between China and Thailand

In 2024, China exported $84.1 billion to Thailand and imported $40.7 billion. China ran a surplus of $43.4 billion with Thailand, compared with a surplus of $10.7 billion in 2019. Thailand was China’s 15th largest trading partner (2% of its trade), and China was Thailand’s largest (19%).

Summary

China → Thailand
$84.1billion
Thailand → China
$40.7billion
China’s balance
$43.4billion

Balance

China’s trade balance with Thailand

Trade between China and Thailand grew 30.5-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). China’s exports and imports; bars: its balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 84.1
  • Imports 40.7
  • Balance +43.4

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$2.4 billion$1.7 billion$657 million
1996$2 billion$2 billion-$29 million
1997$2.3 billion$2.2 billion$127 million
1998$1.7 billion$2.4 billion-$678 million
1999$2.5 billion$2.8 billion-$262 million
2000$3.5 billion$4.3 billion-$729 million
2001$3.7 billion$4.5 billion-$742 million
2002$5 billion$5.3 billion-$313 million
2003$6.1 billion$8.3 billion-$2.2 billion
2004$8.2 billion$10.8 billion-$2.7 billion
2005$11.2 billion$12.7 billion-$1.5 billion
2006$13.7 billion$16.8 billion-$3 billion
2007$17 billion$20.5 billion-$3.5 billion
2008$20.3 billion$22.4 billion-$2.1 billion
2009$17.7 billion$22.1 billion-$4.3 billion
2010$25 billion$29.5 billion-$4.5 billion
2011$31.6 billion$36.7 billion-$5.1 billion
2012$38.1 billion$34 billion$4.1 billion
2013$37.7 billion$33.3 billion$4.4 billion
2014$38.7 billion$32.2 billion$6.4 billion
2015$42.2 billion$32.1 billion$10.1 billion
2016$42.9 billion$31.6 billion$11.3 billion
2017$44.5 billion$35.5 billion$9.1 billion
2018$50.9 billion$35.9 billion$14.9 billion
2019$50.8 billion$40.1 billion$10.7 billion
2020$52 billion$41 billion$11 billion
2021$69.3 billion$48.3 billion$21 billion
2022$73.3 billion$48 billion$25.3 billion
2023$74.1 billion$44.3 billion$29.9 billion
2024$84.1 billion$40.7 billion$43.4 billion

What they sell each other

What China sells to Thailand

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Cameras and broadcast equipment$5.2 billion · 6.2%
    18 thousand tonnes
  2. Microchips$2.5 billion · 3%
    3 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  3. Computers$2.4 billion · 2.9%
    12 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  4. Other iron or steel articles$2 billion · 2.4%
    408 thousand tonnes
  5. Printed circuit boards$1.6 billion · 1.9%
    16 thousand tonnes
  6. Computer and office machine parts$1.6 billion · 1.9%
    29 thousand tonnes
  7. Cars$1.6 billion · 1.9%
    116 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  8. Transformers and power supplies$1.5 billion · 1.8%
    85 thousand tonnes
  9. Auto parts$1.5 billion · 1.7%
    250 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  10. Coated flat steel$1.4 billion · 1.7%
    2 million tonnes

What Thailand sells to China

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Other fresh fruit (berries, kiwi)$4.3 billion · 10.7%
    1.2 million tonnes
  2. Microchips$3.5 billion · 8.6%
    1 thousand tonnes · Thailand’s destinations
  3. Synthetic rubber$2.4 billion · 5.8%
    1.4 million tonnes
  4. Computer and office machine parts$2.3 billion · 5.6%
    28 thousand tonnes
  5. Natural rubber$1.5 billion · 3.6%
    898 thousand tonnes · Thailand’s destinations
  6. Polyethylene$1.2 billion · 3%
    931 thousand tonnes · Thailand’s destinations
  7. Sawn wood$1.2 billion · 2.9%
    3.6 million tonnes · China’s sources
  8. Other sugars$1.1 billion · 2.7%
    2.1 million tonnes
  9. Starches$875 million · 2.2%
    1.8 million tonnes
  10. Copper scrap$682 million · 1.7%
    144 thousand tonnes

How it travels

Estimated sea route from Shanghai to Laem Chabang.

The estimated sea route between Shanghai and Laem Chabang is 2,233 nautical miles (4,136 km) long: ≈ 5–6.5 days at sea (at 18 and 14 knots).

It does not cross any major canal or strait.

Sailing estimate without port calls, waiting or transshipment; not a schedule. One main reference port per country: in large countries it does not represent all of its ports.

Split by transport mode

  1. Sea$90.7 billion · 72.7%
  2. Air$34 billion · 27.3%

Mode estimated from value per kilo and geography; both directions together.

How much each matters to the other

Thailand was China’s 15th largest trading partner (2% of its trade), and China was Thailand’s largest (19%).

Thailand in China’s trade
2.2%
Thailand’s rank among China’s partners
15th
China in Thailand’s trade
19.3%
China’s rank among Thailand’s partners
1st

Compare with

Other partners of China

Other partners of Thailand

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. The sea route comes from our own network derived from World Bank shipping density (not from nautical charts), between one main reference port per country (World Port Index); days are the distance at 14 and 18 knots, without port calls or waiting. Data up to 2024.