Thailand Industrial Output Rises More Than Expected

2026-02-27 01:35 By Kyrie Dichosa 1 min. read

Thailand’s industrial production rose 1.46% year-on-year in January 2026, surpassing the expected 0.9% gain and following a 2.52% increase in December.

This marked the second consecutive month of growth, driven by ongoing expansion in automotive output and heightened activity ahead of the February general election.

Automotive production climbed 6.3% annually, supported by domestic demand for hybrid EVs and BEVs, while electronics output, including printed circuit boards and integrated circuits, surged 18.2% on strong global demand.

Palm oil production also jumped 67.3% due to higher yields boosting market supply.Meanwhile, the industrial sector faced headwinds from a decline in inbound tourism and a stronger baht, which weighed on the competitiveness of Thai products.

Looking ahead, factory activity is expected to expand 1.5–2.5% in 2026, supported by steady trade with key partners, government stimulus measures, and a shift toward looser monetary policy.



News Stream
Thailand Industrial Output Rises More Than Expected
Thailand’s industrial production rose 1.46% year-on-year in January 2026, surpassing the expected 0.9% gain and following a 2.52% increase in December. This marked the second consecutive month of growth, driven by ongoing expansion in automotive output and heightened activity ahead of the February general election. Automotive production climbed 6.3% annually, supported by domestic demand for hybrid EVs and BEVs, while electronics output, including printed circuit boards and integrated circuits, surged 18.2% on strong global demand. Palm oil production also jumped 67.3% due to higher yields boosting market supply.Meanwhile, the industrial sector faced headwinds from a decline in inbound tourism and a stronger baht, which weighed on the competitiveness of Thai products. Looking ahead, factory activity is expected to expand 1.5–2.5% in 2026, supported by steady trade with key partners, government stimulus measures, and a shift toward looser monetary policy.
2026-02-27
Thailand Industrial Output Growth Hits 20-Month High
Thailand’s industrial production unexpectedly grew 2.52% year-on-year in December 2025, outperforming forecasts of a 0.9% drop and recovering from a downwardly revised 3.85% fall in November. It marked the strongest growth in industrial production since April 2024, boosted by auto production, industrial export growth, and government measures. Output expansions were seen in basic iron and steel (15.54%), electronic components and boards (10.52%), automotive (5.02%), food (2.20%), computers and peripherals (0.75%), and petroleum refining (0.55%). Meanwhile, production contractions were recorded in apparel production excluding garment stores (-7.81%), and rubber & plastics (-0.95%). However, for the full year of 2025, the index fell 0.78% as the strong baht eroded Thailand’s export competitiveness. On a monthly basis, industrial output rose 2.33% in December, after a downwardly revised 1.66% drop in November.
2026-01-29
Thailand Industrial Output Unexpectedly Drops
Thailand’s industrial production dropped by 4.24% year-on-year in November 2025, missing market forecasts of a 0.8% increase and slipping further from a 0.08% fall in October. Main downward pressure came from a weaker petroleum output, while a sharply stronger baht weighed on export competitiveness by pushing up prices abroad. The currency has risen about 10% against the US dollar this year, adding pressure on manufacturers. Output was also disrupted by flooding in southern regions and softer tourism activity. These headwinds were partly offset by solid export demand, stronger auto production, and government support measures. Notably, vehicle output rose around 11% from a year earlier, keeping Thailand on track to meet its full-year production target. Despite the November setback, authorities left their outlook unchanged, expecting factory output to decline modestly in 2025 before returning to growth in 2026.
2025-12-29