Thai PM: Thailand may see trade deficit

BANGKOK, March 26 (UPI) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has said the country could record a trade deficit for the first time since 1997.

However, he said the country's current account would most likely retain a surplus, the Bangkok Post reported Saturday.

The Customs Department had previously released February data that showed a trade deficit for the second consecutive month. The department attributed the deficit to high global oil prices and increased shipments of capital goods.

"We believe we will only see a trade deficit this year, so don't be too worried about our balance of payments, which should remain in surplus," Thaksin said.