BANGKOK, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's exports grew for a 22nd straight month in April, mainly due to front-loaded orders to hedge against price volatility amid concerns over potential supply-chain disruptions and rising costs, official data showed on Monday.

Exports, a key driver of the Southeast Asian country's economic growth, expanded 23.1 percent year-on-year last month to 31.58 billion U.S. dollars, up from an 18.7 percent jump in March and registering the strongest rate since January, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The uptrend was also attributed to a pickup in global manufacturing activity, which supports demand for Thailand's key export products, and a rebound in agricultural shipments, particularly for seasonal fruit products, said Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the ministry's trade policy and strategy office.

Industrial product shipments soared 27.5 percent in April compared to the previous year, marking the 25th successive month of growth, fueled by robust sales of telephones, computers, and their related components, along with gems and jewelry.

Exports of agricultural goods grew 17.9 percent, marking the first expansion in nine months, while agro-industrial products declined 8.9 percent.

The data also indicated that imports surged 45 percent from a year earlier to 41.60 billion dollars in April, resulting in a trade deficit of 10.02 billion dollars.

For the first four months of 2026, exports rose 18.9 percent to 127.75 billion dollars, while imports gained 35.7 percent to 147.25 billion dollars, yielding a trade deficit of 19.50 billion dollars.

The Thai export outlook remains positive despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, as exporters and shipping lines are proactively navigating risks of geopolitical uncertainty and rising cost pressures, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry noted that downside risks ahead include higher maritime freight costs, persistent instability around the Strait of Hormuz, and potential drought conditions driven by the El Nino phenomenon, which could affect agricultural output in the second half of the year. ■