The Bank of Thailand voted by five to two to raise the policy rate by 25 bps to 1.75 percent on December 19th 2018 meeting, as widely expected. It is the first hike in borrowing cost since March 2015, amid a slowdown in exports and tourism. The Committee said that the policy increase would help curb accumulation of vulnerabilities in the financial system in conjunction with the macro-prudential measures already implemented. For 2018, the Bank revised its economic growth forecast to 4.2 percent from 4.4 percent. Interest Rate in Thailand averaged 2.22 percent from 2000 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 5 percent in June of 2006 and a record low of 1.25 percent in June of 2003.

Interest Rate in Thailand is expected to be 1.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Interest Rate in Thailand to stand at 2.00 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Thailand Interest Rate is projected to trend around 2.25 percent in 2020, according to our econometric models.

Thailand Interest Rate
width
height
 Preview
Forecast Data Chart
Trading Economics members can view, download and compare data from nearly 200 countries, including more than 20 million economic indicators, exchange rates, government bond yields, stock indexes and commodity prices.

The Trading Economics Application Programming Interface (API) provides direct access to our data. It allows API clients to download millions of rows of historical data, to query our real-time economic calendar, subscribe to updates and receive quotes for currencies, commodities, stocks and bonds.

API Features Documentation Interested? Click here to contact us

Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-08-08 07:00 AM Interest Rate Decision 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1.75%
2018-09-19 07:05 AM Interest Rate Decision 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1.5%
2018-11-14 07:05 AM Interest Rate Decision 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1.5%
2018-12-19 07:05 AM Interest Rate Decision 1.75% 1.5% 1.75% 1.5%



Thailand Hikes Key Rate for 1st Time in 7-1/2 Years



The Bank of Thailand voted by five to two to raise the policy rate by 25 bps to 1.75 percent on December 19th 2018 meeting, as widely expected. It is the first hike in borrowing cost since March 2015, amid a slowdown in exports and tourism. The Committee said that the policy increase would help curb accumulation of vulnerabilities in the financial system in conjunction with the macro-prudential measures already implemented. For 2018, the Bank revised its economic growth forecast to 4.2 percent from 4.4 percent.

Statement by the Bank of Thailand:

The Thai economy as a whole continued to gain traction, consistent with its potential, although merchandise exports were affected by the projected slowdown in the global economy as well as trade protectionism measures between the US and China. Meanwhile, tourism exhibited slower growth especially due to the decline in the number of Chinese tourists but started to show signs of improvement. Domestic demand momentum continued to expand. Private consumption was expected to expand on the back of increasingly broad-based improvements in non-farm income as well as additional supports from government measures, while household income in the agricultural sector slightly declined.
 
Nevertheless, private consumption was restrained by elevated household debt. Private investment was projected to expand thanks to the relocation of production base to Thailand and public-private partnership projects for infrastructure investment. Public expenditure would grow at a slower pace than previously assessed due to delayed investment by some state-owned enterprises. The Committee would monitor risks associated with trade protectionism measures between the US and China that could affect momentum of economic growth in the period ahead. 2
 
The annual average of headline inflation projection was expected to be broadly unchanged. However, downside risks remained due to fluctuations in energy and fresh food prices. Core inflation was projected to rise given the gradually rising demand-pull inflationary pressures. The Committee viewed that structural changes contributed to more persistent inflation than in the past. Such changes included the expansion of e-commerce, rising price competition, and technological development which reduced costs of production.
 
Financial conditions over the previous period had been accommodative and conducive to economic growth with ample liquidity in the financial system. Real interest rates remained low, allowing financing by the private sector to continue expanding. Loans extended to large businesses and consumer continued to grow. The Committee assessed that, although the policy rate increased by 0.25 percent, overall financial conditions would remain accommodative and conducive to economic growth. With regard to exchange rates, movements of the baht against the US dollar were broadly stabilized compared withthose of regional currencies.
 
Looking ahead, the baht would likely remain volatile, and thus the Committee would continue to closely monitor exchange rate developments as well as impacts on the economy. Financial stability remained sound overall but there remained a need to monitor risks arising from the prolonged low interest rate environment that might pose vulnerabilities to financial stability in the future, especially the search-for-yield behavior that might lead to underpricing of risks.
 
Financial stability remained sound overall but there remained a need to monitor risks arising from the prolonged low interest rate environment that might pose vulnerabilities to financial stability in the future, especially the search-for-yield behavior that might lead to underpricing of risks. The Committee viewed that the policy rate increase at this meeting would help curb accumulation of vulnerabilities in the financial system in conjunction with the macro-prudential measures already implemented.
 
Looking ahead, the Thai economy was projected to continue to gain traction despite the slowdown in external demand. The Committee viewed that accommodative monetary policy would remain appropriate in the period ahead, and thus would continue to closely monitor developments of economic growth, inflation, and financial stability, together with associated risks, in deliberating appropriate monetary policy in the period ahead.


Bank of Thailand l Chusnul Ch Manan | chusnul@tradingeconomics.com
12/19/2018 10:17:08 AM


Recent Releases

Thailand Leaves Monetary Policy Unchanged
The Bank of Thailand voted by four to three to keep the policy rate at 1.5 percent on 14th November 2018, as widely expected. The Committee said that monetary policy should remain accommodative, although the need for accommodative policy would be gradually reduced, despite signs of sluggishness in the economy's two main drivers, exports and tourism.
Published on 2018-11-14

Thailand Holds Policy Rate at 1.5%
The Bank of Thailand voted by five to two to maintain the policy rate at 1.5 percent on September 19th 2018, as widely expected. The Committee said that the current monetary policy stance continued to support economic growth and should support the increase of inflation rate toward its target. Annual inflation rate increased to 1.6 percent in August from 1.5 percent in July. Still, two members voted to raise the policy rate by 25bps to 1.75 percent.
Published on 2018-09-19

Thailand Leaves Monetary Policy Unchanged
The Bank of Thailand voted by six to one to maintain the policy rate at 1.5 percent on August 8th, saying that the current monetary policy stance continued to support growth while inflation remained within the 1-4 percent target. Still, one member voted to raise the key rate by 0.25 percentage point to 1.75 percent.
Published on 2018-08-08

Thailand Holds Interest Rate Steady at 1.5%
The Bank of Thailand voted unanimously to left its one-day repurchase rate unchanged at 1.5 percent on June 20th meeting, as widely expected. The Committee said that the current monetary policy stance continued to support economic growth and should support the increase of inflation rate toward its target. Annual inflation rate advanced to 1.5 percent in May from 1.1 percent in April and it is expected to rise at a slightly faster pace boosted by higher oil prices.
Published on 2018-06-20



Thailand Money Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Interest Rate 1.75 1.50 5.00 1.25 percent [+]
Interbank Rate 1.62 1.61 5.41 1.35 percent [+]
Money Supply M0 1382325.00 1388931.00 1437578.00 280977.00 THB Million [+]
Money Supply M1 1977.50 1960.10 2061.00 365.90 THB Billion [+]
Money Supply M3 19737.62 19519.17 19737.62 5077.80 THB Billion [+]
Banks Balance Sheet 18826503.00 18595409.00 18841592.00 14874369.00 THB Million [+]
Foreign Exchange Reserves 203153.03 201784.55 215614.70 326.00 USD Million [+]
Loans to Private Sector 4111176.00 4060599.00 4111176.00 1701089.00 THB Million [+]
Deposit Interest Rate 1.29 1.30 13.67 1.02 percent [+]
Central Bank Balance Sheet 7690078.00 7510147.00 7816961.00 2103522.00 THB Million [+]


Thailand Interest Rate

In Thailand, interest rates decisions are taken by The Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee. The main interest rate is the 1-day repurchase rate. This page provides - Thailand Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Thailand Interest Rate - actual data, historical chart and calendar of releases - was last updated on December of 2018.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
1.75 1.50 5.00 1.25 2000 - 2018 percent Daily




Country Last Previous
Argentina 59.44 Dec/18
Turkey 24.00 Dec/18
Mexico 8.00 Nov/18
Russia 7.75 Dec/18
South Africa 6.75 Nov/18
Brazil 6.50 Dec/18
India 6.50 Dec/18
Indonesia 6.00 Nov/18
China 4.35 Nov/18
Saudi Arabia 2.75 Nov/18
United States 2.25 Nov/18
Singapore 1.97 Nov/18
Canada 1.75 Dec/18
South Korea 1.75 Nov/18
Australia 1.50 Dec/18
United Kingdom 0.75 Nov/18
Euro Area 0.00 Dec/18
France 0.00 Dec/18
Germany 0.00 Dec/18
Italy 0.00 Dec/18
Netherlands 0.00 Dec/18
Spain 0.00 Dec/18
Japan -0.10 Nov/18
Switzerland -0.75 Dec/18


Related
Latest