Improving auto sector drives manufacturing rise

Thailand’s Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) rose by 2.1% year-on-year to 92.3 points in April, driven mainly by the improving automotive industry, says the Office of Industrial Economics (OIE).

- LAMONPHET APISITNIRAN

Whether the MPI and the domestic auto market will continue to improve remains uncertain as Thailand faces local and external economic challenges, noted the agency.

In April, Thailand’s capacity utilisation tallied 56.5%, a slight increase from 56% year-on-year.

“This indicates increasing production in the industrial sector, driven by the expansion of the auto industry as manufacturers produced more cars based on bookings during the recent motor show,” said Passakorn Chairat, director-general of the OIE.