Production index slips on downbeat trade projection

Unpleasant trade prospects threaten to affect the Thai manufacturing sector, with the Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) dipping by 0.6% year-on-year in March to 105.03 points, says the Office of Industrial Economics (OIE).

- LAMONPHET APISITNIRAN

The index increased by 9.2% from February, attributed to state economic measures and exports.

Future global economic uncertainty cannot be avoided, given US President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariff policy, said Passakorn Chairat, director-general of the OIE. Washington proposed a 36% levy on imports from Thailand on April 9, but paused enforcement for a period of 90 days to allow some countries to negotiate.

"The tariff policy is pressuring global trade, with the manufacturing sector in Europe and Japan expected to slow down," said Mr Passakorn.