The ministry reported shipments of gems and jewellery including gold rose 42.6% in the first eight months to 37 billion. Excluding gold, the export value contracted 2.6% for the period to $4.54 billion.
Surapong Paisitpatanapong, spokesman for the automotive industry club of the Federation of Thai Industries, said despite higher exports in the first eight months, exports of automobiles are still full of risks particularly from the negative impact of Britain's exit from the European Union, the baht's appreciation and low oil prices.