European Commission Directorate-General for Trade

Thailand

The EU works closely with Thailand under the framework of the EU-ASEAN Cooperation Agreement to ensure an effective environment for trade and investment relations.  The EU is in negotiations with Thailand on an upgraded Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) which will extend the areas of cooperation.

Thailand is one of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The countries as a group are the EU's third largest trading partners outside Europe, after the United States and China. The ASEAN region is a dynamic market with some 580 million consumers. As one of the most economically advanced ASEAN economies, Thailand is an attractive export market for EU businesses in a variety of sectors.

In 2009, Thailand is the EU's 23rd largest trading partner (in goods)

Trade in goods

• EU good exports to Thailand in 2009: €7.6 billion
• EU goods imports from Thailand in 2009: €14.3 billion

Trade in services

• EU services exports to Thailand in 2008: €2.4 billion
• EU services imports from Thailand in 2008: €4.8 billion

Foreign Direct Investment

• EU investment flows to Thailand in 2008: €0.6 billion
• EU investment inflows in 2008: €-0.2 billion
• EU total stock of investment in Thailand in 2008: €10.6 billion
• EU inward stock of investment in 2008: €0.5 billion

More statistics on Thailand

Bilateral trade in goods and services between the EU and ASEAN reached some €158.5 billion in 2009. Thailand is - just after Malaysia - the EU's third largest trading partner in ASEAN with annual trade amounting to €21.9 billion. The EU has a negative balance of trade in goods and in services with Thailand. 

Negotiating better access for EU exporters to the dynamic ASEAN market was identified as a priority under the 2006 Global Europe trade strategy.

Thailand is one of the most important destinations of European investments within ASEAN

More information on EU relations with Thailand