Bhutan-Thailand Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $18.78M total volume •Bhutan deficit: $18.65M

BhutanThailand

$62,269

Exports (2023)

ThailandBhutan

$18.71M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$18.65M

Deficit for Bhutan

Total Trade

$18.78M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Bhutan and Thailand. Green line shows exports from Bhutan, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Bhutan-Thailand commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

BhutanThailand Exports

$62,269
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
46.9% top product
1Rubber: used pneumatic tyres
$29,232
46.9% of exports
2Aircraft and spacecraft: parts of aeroplanes or helicopters n.e.c. in heading no. 8803
$20,980
33.7% of exports
3Tools, hand: hand-operated spanners and wrenches (including torque meter wrenches but not including tap wrenches), non-adjustable
$4,112
6.6% of exports
4Paintings, drawings and pastels: executed entirely by hand, other than drawings of heading no. 4906
$2,041
3.3% of exports
5Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10
$1,450
2.3% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Bhutan's export portfolio to Thailand demonstrates strategic specialization, with rubber: used pneumatic tyres representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

ThailandBhutan Imports

$18.71M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
16.8% concentration
1Units of automatic data processing machines: n.e.c. in item no. 8471.50, 8471.60 or 8471.70
$3.14M
16.8% of imports
2Fabrics, woven: dyed, containing less than 85% by weight of polyester staple fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, not exceeding 170g/m2
$2.82M
15.1% of imports
3Fruit, edible: fruit n.e.c. in heading no. 0812, dried
$1.36M
7.3% of imports
4Ovens, cookers, cooking plates, boiling rings, grillers and roasters: of a kind used for domestic purposes (excluding microwaves)
$1.03M
5.5% of imports
5Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10
$895,296
4.8% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Bhutan's import pattern from Thailand reveals significant dependencyin units of automatic data processing machines: n.e.c. in item no. 8471.50, 8471.60 or 8471.70, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Bhutan demonstrates competitive strength in exportingrubber: used pneumatic tyres to Thailand, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $18.78M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Bhutan-Thailand Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $18.78 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Bhutan maintains a deficit of $18.65 million
  • Export Focus: Bhutan's primary exports include rubber: used pneumatic tyres, aircraft and spacecraft: parts of aeroplanes or helicopters n.e.c. in heading no. 8803, tools, hand: hand-operated spanners and wrenches (including torque meter wrenches but not including tap wrenches), non-adjustable
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Thailand include units of automatic data processing machines: n.e.c. in item no. 8471.50, 8471.60 or 8471.70, fabrics, woven: dyed, containing less than 85% by weight of polyester staple fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, not exceeding 170g/m2, fruit, edible: fruit n.e.c. in heading no. 0812, dried

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $18.78M represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Bhutan leveraging its comparative advantages in rubber: used pneumatic tyres.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

Bhutan's specialization in rubber: used pneumatic tyrescomplements Thailand's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in units of automatic data processing machines: n.e.c. in item no. 8471.50, 8471.60 or 8471.70.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $18.78M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $18.78M bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $18.78 million bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in rubber: used pneumatic tyres and units of automatic data processing machines: n.e.c. in item no. 8471.50, 8471.60 or 8471.70 demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Bhutan's trade deficit of $18.65 million impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Import Dependency

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in aircraft and spacecraft: parts of aeroplanes or helicopters n.e.c. in heading no. 8803 present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on units of automatic data processing machines: n.e.c. in item no. 8471.50, 8471.60 or 8471.70, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks
Market Competition
Global competition in rubber: used pneumatic tyres may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Bhutan and Thailand represents a total trade volume of $18.78 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Bhutan, with imports exceeding exportsby $18.65 million.

Export Strengths

Bhutan's exports to Thailand total $62.27 thousand, with competitive advantages in rubber: used pneumatic tyres, representing $29,232 or46.9% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Thailand amount to $18.71 million, highlighting economic interdependence in units of automatic data processing machines: n.e.c. in item no. 8471.50, 8471.60 or 8471.70, with Units of automatic data processing machines: n.e.c. in item no. 8471.50, 8471.60 or 8471.70 comprising16.8% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Bhutan's strategic sourcing from Thailand. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Bhutan and Thailand in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023