BANGKOK, Sept. 15 -- The Thai Commerce Ministry's Department of Trade Negotiations on Sunday said that Thailand has become the world's largest rubber exporter, with China as Thailand's biggest market thanks to its free trade agreements (FTA) with China and many other countries.

Director-general of the DTN Auramon Sapthaweetham said that in 2018, Thailand exported rubber at an estimated over 4.6 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for 1.82 percent of total Thai exports.

"China was Thailand's biggest market, importing Thai rubber at 1.96 billion U.S. dollars," said Auramon, "that is 43 percent of total Thai rubber exports in 2018.

Auramon said Thailand also exports rubber to countries in Southeast Asia, the United States, Japan and South Korea.

She said the achievement in becoming the world's largest rubber export was a result of the 13 free trade agreements with 18 countries as they have played a key role in eliminating import tariffs on rubber with partner countries and provided trade opportunities, boosting the export of Thai rubber products.