BANGKOK, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- The value of Thailand's gems and jewelry export reached 11.452 billion U.S. dollars in the first eight months of 2019, up 45.81 percent year-on-year, said in the latest report released on Thursday by the Thai Ministry of Commerce.
Deputy Commerce Minister Weerasak Wangsuphakijkosol said that of exports, gold alone accounted for 6.212 billion dollars, an increase of 107.16 percent year-on-year.
"Southeast Asia has been the biggest market for gems and jewelry from Thailand, and its export to this region has expanded 190.8 percent," the report said, "meanwhile, export of gems and jewelry to Singapore has risen 307 percent, to Cambodia 137 percent, and to India by 84.14 percent, as the Indian middle-class now has higher purchasing power."
Weerasak said that gems and jewelry export has become the third biggest earner for Thailand.
