Thailand imported US$310.2 billion worth of products from around the world in 2024.

That dollar metric reflects a 48.7% advance compared to $208.6 billion during 2020.

Year over year, the overall cost of products imported into Thailand grew by 6.2% from $292.1 billion in 2023.

Thai imports for 2024 represent around 1.3% of overall global imports which cost $24.1 trillion, down from 1.4% one year earlier.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2024, Thailand uses the Thai baht which depreciated by -1.4% against the US dollar from 2023 to 2024. Thailand’s weaker currency made Thailand imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively more expensive when starting from Thai baht.

Best Suppliers for Thailand’s Imports

The latest available country-specific data shows that 74.3% of products imported into Thailand was furnished by exporters in: mainland China (26.2% of Thailand’s total), Japan (9.3%), Taiwan (6.7%), United States of America (6.4%), United Arab Emirates (5.6%), Malaysia (4.5%), South Korea (3%), Vietnam (2.97%), Indonesia (2.9%), Singapore (2.4%), Switzerland (2.3%) and Hong Kong (2%).

Applying a continental lens, 76.8% of Thailand’s total imports by value in 2024 were purchased from fellow Asian countries. Trade partners based in Europe supplied 7.2% of imports into Thailand while another 7.2% worth originated from North America.

Oceania (mainly Australia and New Zealand) accounted for 2.4% of the total. Tinier percentages came from suppliers in Latin America (2.1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Africa (1.6%).

Given Thailand’s population of 70.3 million people, its total $310.2 billion in 2024 imports translates to roughly $4,400 in yearly product demand from every person in the East Asian country. That per-capita amount surpasses the average $4,150 one year earlier in 2023.

Thailand’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Thailand’s import purchases during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Thailand.

1. Electrical machinery, equipment: US$65.6 billion (21.2% of total imports)
2. Mineral fuels including oil: $51.8 billion (16.7%)
3. Machinery including computers: $36.4 billion (11.7%)
4. Gems, precious metals: $21.6 billion (7.%)
5. Iron, steel: $11.2 billion (3.6%)
6. Vehicles: $1.9 billion (3.5%)
7. Plastics, plastic articles: $1.7 billion (3.4%)
8. Articles of iron or steel: $8.6 billion (2.8%)
9. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $6.9 billion (2.2%)
10. Copper: $5.8 billion (1.9%)

Thailand’s top 10 imports represent 73.9% of the overall value of Thai product purchases from other countries.

Among these top categories, the fastest growth products attracting Thai import purchases were gems and precious metals (up 58.9% from 2023) propelled by greater spending on imported gold, machinery including computers (up 17.2%), then imported electrical machinery and equipment (up 11.3%).

The severest decline was for Thai imports under the vehicles category (down -26.6% from 2023).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level.

At the more granular 4-digit level, Thai importers spent the most on crude oil (10.9% of total), electronic integrated circuits and microassemblies (8%), unwrought gold (5%), petroleum gases (3.1%), computers including optical readers (2.7%), phone devices including smartphones (2.4%), automotive parts or accessories (1.9%), miscellaneous items made from iron or steel (1.3%), processed petroleum oils (also 1.3%), then computer parts or accessories (1.2%).

Collectively, those in-demand products generated over one-third (37.9%) of overall Thai spending on imports.

Thailand’s Best Electronics Product Imports

In 2024, Thai importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics.

1. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: US$24.7 billion (up 25.3% from 2023)
2. Phone devices including smartphones: $7.6 billion (up 4.0%)
3. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $3.1 billion (down -14.0%)
4. Unrecorded sound media: $2.9 billion (up 27.2%)
5. Electrical machinery: $2.8 billion (up 21.3%)
6. Printed circuits: $2.7 billion (up 37.8%)
7. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $2.6 billion (up 8.1%)
8. Electrical converters/power units: $2.38 billion (up 15.2%)
9. Insulated wire/cable: $2.38 billion (up 6.9%)
10. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $2.32 billion (down -35.9%)

Among these import subcategories, Thai purchases of printed circuits (up 37.8%), unrecorded sound media (up 27.2%) then integrated circuits or microassemblies (up 25.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among Thai businesses and consumers.

Thailand’s Best Mineral Fuels Imports

In 2024, Thai importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related items.

1. Crude oil: US$33.8 billion (down -2.2% from 2023)
2. Petroleum gases: $9.6 billion (down -16.6%)
3. Processed petroleum oils: $3.9 billion (down -14.9%)
4. Electrical energy: $2.1 billion (up 8.3%)
5. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $1.7 billion (down -5.6%)
6. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $282.5 million (down -13.4%)
7. Petroleum oil residues: $228 million (down -5.3%)
8. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $59.8 million (up 6.9%)
9. Peat: $8.4 million (up 25.2%)
10. Coke, semi-coke: $7.9 million (down -37.7%)

Among these import subcategories, Thai purchases of peat (up 25.2%), electrical energy (up 8.3%) then petroleum jelly, mineral waxes (up 6.9%) grew from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels-related imports among Thai businesses and consumers.

Thailand’s Best Machinery Imports Including Computers

In 2024, Thai importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$8.4 billion (up 56.9% from 2023)
2. Computer parts, accessories: $3.9 billion (up 62%)
3. Air or vacuum pumps: $2.2 billion (up 9.1%)
4. Turbo-jets: $2.1 billion (down -2.9%)
5. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $1.29 billion (up 5.8%)
6. Printing machinery: $1.28 billion (up 13.5%)
7. Piston engine parts: $1.25 billion (down -16.6%)
8. Miscellaneous machinery: $1.21 billion (up 35.6%)
9. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $970.8 million (up 0.3%)
10. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $954.4 million (down -2.8%)

Among these import subcategories, Thai purchases of computer parts or accessories (up 62%), computers including optical readers (up 56.9%) then miscellaneous machinery (up 35.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery including computers among Thai businesses and consumers.

Thailand’s Gems and Precious Metals Imports

In 2024, Thai importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of gems and precious metals.

1. Gold (unwrought): US$15.4 billion (up 93.8% from 2023)
2. Jewelry: $1.7 billion (up 13.6%)
3. Diamonds (unmounted/unset): $1.5 billion (down -13.1%)
4. Precious/semi-precious stones (unstrung): $1.3 billion (up 6.2%)
5. Silver (unwrought): $687.2 million (up 26.6%)
6. Synthetic precious stones: $241.5 million (up 17.2%)
7. Coins: $199.9 million (up 1804.8%)
8. Other precious metal items: $196.5 million (up 37.6%)
9. Imitation jewelry: $117.7 million (up 20.8%)
10. Platinum (unwrought): $85.6 million (up 15.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Thai purchases of coins (up 1,805%), unwrought gold (up 93.8%) then other precious metal items (up 37.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported gems and precious metals among Thai businesses and consumers.
 

See also Thailand’s Top Trading Partners, Thailand’s Top 10 Exports and Thailand’s Top 10 Major Export Companies

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on July 30, 2025

International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (Domestic Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on July 30, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 30, 2025

Richest Country Reports, Key Statistics Powering Global Wealth. Accessed on July 30, 2025