Worawong Ramangkul rebutted Supachai Suthammanont, saying Thailand's export growth has been robust and continuous. He advised that if she is uncertain, she should consult officials at the Ministry of Commerce. He questioned, if export growth across every region is labeled as 'inefficient growth,' then what qualifies as efficient growth?
On 6 February 2026, Worawong Ramangkul, former Deputy Minister attached to the Ministry of Commerce, responded to Supachai Suthammanont, Minister of Commerce and Pheu Thai's candidate for Deputy Prime Minister, who stated during a debate last night that "exports last year grew, but growth was inefficient." Worawong said this rhetoric damages national confidence by spreading misinformation without proper data study and expressed deep disappointment that a minister would make such remarks.
Worawong stated that exports in 2025 were a golden year for exports, resulting from Pheu Thai's economic stimulus policies. He emphasized that Pheu Thai did not rely solely on the United States and China markets, contrary to the minister's claims.
Data from the Office of Trade Policy and Strategy, Ministry of Commerce, shows that in 2025, Thailand's exports grew by +12.9%. Pheu Thai has pursued policies promoting market expansion across all regions worldwide.
Specifically, the European Union market grew by +9.1%, ASEAN by +6.9%, South Asia by +31.1%, the Middle East by +5.1%, Latin America by +15.0%, Russia and CIS countries by +15.0%, and Africa by +2.0%. Industrial product exports expanded by as much as +17.4%.
He asked Supachai directly: If exports are growing across every region like this, and this is called 'inefficient growth,' then to which regions should Thailand expand exports for the growth to be considered efficient?
Currently, Thailand produces higher-technology products than in the past, resulting in continuous export value growth. While exports depend heavily on large markets like the US and China, which account for over 30% of exports due to their large populations and purchasing power, Thailand still has significant potential to expand markets further. Compared to competitors, Vietnam exports nearly three times more to the US than Thailand. Therefore, expanding markets in the US and other regions simultaneously is a necessary strategy.
Pheu Thai's policy calls for accelerating FTA negotiations to secure as many agreements as possible with trading partners. This would attract trade and investment to Thailand and reinvigorate its economic machinery. Vietnam currently has FTAs with over 60 countries, clearly boosting its trade and investment growth, with projections that Vietnam's GDP may soon surpass Thailand's.
Thailand urgently needs to finalize FTA negotiations with the EU, which has 27 member countries. Previously, Maros Sefcovic, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, who led the EU negotiating team, promised Pichai Naripthaphan, then Minister of Commerce, to conclude the agreement by 25 December 2025, but it remains unfinished.
Therefore, Worawong urged Supachai Suthammanont, Minister of Commerce, to stop spreading harmful rhetoric against the country. Besides damaging national confidence, such statements undermine the morale of exporters and Commerce Ministry officials who have dedicated themselves fully throughout 2025, Worawong concluded.
