The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Thailand’s import purchases during 2020. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Thailand.

1. Electrical machinery, equipment: US$43.5 billion (20.8% of total imports)
2. Mineral fuels including oil: $28.8 billion (13.8%)
3. Machinery including computers: $26 billion (12.5%)
4. Vehicles: $9.5 billion (4.6%)
5. Iron, steel: $9.3 billion (4.5%)
6. Plastics, plastic articles: $8.6 billion (4.1%)
7. Gems, precious metals: $8.1 billion (3.9%)
8. Articles of iron or steel: $6 billion (2.9%)
9. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $5.5 billion (2.6%)
10. Other chemical goods: $4.1 billion (2%)

Thailand’s top 10 imports represent 71.6% of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Among these top categories, Thai purchases of miscellaneous chemical goods (up 2.3%) and electrical machinery and equipment (up 0.1%) were the sole product categories to increase from 2019 to 2020.

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

For products at the more granular 4-digit level, please see the adjacent virtual folder tabs.

In 2020, Thai importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics.

1. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: US$12.3 billion (up 7.5% from 2019)
2. Phone system devices including smartphones: $6.7 billion (down -3.2%)
3. Unrecorded sound media: $3.2 billion (up 19.5%)
4. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $2.1 billion (down -4.3%)
5. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $1.9 billion (up 2.5%)
6. Electrical machinery: $1.9 billion (down -3.9%)
7. Insulated wire/cable: $1.7 billion (down -6%)
8. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $1.5 billion (down -9.7%)
9. Printed circuits: $1.4 billion (up 17.7%)
10. Electrical converters/power units: $1.3 billion (up 3.1%)

Among these import subcategories, Thai purchases of unrecorded sound media (up 19.5%), printed circuits (up 17.7%) then integrated circuits and microassemblies (up 7.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2019 to 2020.

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.

In 2020, Thai importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related items.

1. Crude oil: US$17.7 billion (down -20.7% from 2019)
2. Petroleum gases: $4.1 billion (down -27.1%)
3. Processed petroleum oils: $3.4 billion (down -44.7%)
4. Electrical energy: $1.8 billion (up 26.7%)
5. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $1.3 billion (down -8%)
6. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $257.3 million (down -48.6%)
7. Petroleum oil residues: $184.7 million (up 29%)
8. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $39.9 million (down -8.9%)
9. Coke, semi-coke: $7.5 million (down -29.7%)
10. Peat: $5.1 million (up 20.2%)

Among these import subcategories, Thai purchases of petroleum oil residues (up 29%), electrical energy (up 26.7%) and peat (up 20.2%) grew from 2019 to 2020.

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.

In 2020, Thai importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$3.2 billion (down -21.2% from 2019)
2. Computer parts, accessories: $2.4 billion (up 7.7%)
3. Air or vacuum pumps: $1.8 billion (down -5.4%)
4. Turbo-jets: $1.3 billion (down -5.2%)
5. Printing machinery: $1.3 billion (up 0.9%)
6. Piston engine parts: $1.2 billion (down -29%)
7. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $1 billion (down -10.4%)
8. Miscellaneous machinery: $976.5 million (down -16%)
9. Liquid pumps and elevators: $831.3 million (down -8.9%)
10. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $799.7 million (down -19.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Thai purchases of computer parts or accessories (up 7.7%) and printing machinery (up 0.9%) grew from 2019 to 2020.

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

In 2020, Thai importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Automobile parts/accessories: US$5.1 billion (down -25.6% from 2019)
2. Armored vehicles, tanks: $1.6 billion (up 931.9%)
3. Cars: $1.1 billion (down -31.6%)
4. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $579.8 million (up 5.1%)
5. Motorcycles: $261.4 million (down -20.1%)
6. Public-transport vehicles: $257.6 million (down -29.5%)
7. Trucks: $173.7 million (down -32%)
8. Tractors: $142.7 million (down -33.6%)
9. Automobile bodies: $117.1 million (down -13.2%)
10. Trailers: $92.1 million (down -16.7%)

Among these import subcategories, Thai purchases of armored vehicles and tanks (up 931.9%) and motorcycle parts or accessories (up 5.1%) grew from 2019 to 2020.

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