BANGKOK, May 31: Thailand’s industrial output rose for a second straight month in April but the recovery remains fragile with both exports and domestic consumption weak. The Industry Ministry said on Tuesday its manufacturing production index (MPI) in April increased 1.54 percent from a year earlier. A Reuters poll forecast a rise of 0.8 percent. In March, output rose a revised 2.2 percent from a year earlier, its first annual gain in three months. Industrial goods accounted for nearly 79 percent of total exports in April, which contracted 8 percent from a year earlier, customs data showed. April’s output rise was led by cars and car parts, air conditioners and petroleum. Capacity utilisation was at 58.43 percent in April, down from March’s revised 72.79 percent. Exports have shrunk over the past three years. The central bank projects shipments will fall 2 percent this year and the economy will grow 3.1 percent. Data from Thailand’s Office of Industrial Economics, part of the Industry Ministry. (not seasonally adjusted)
Month Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec % change y/y +1.54 +2.2* -1.7 -3.5 1.4 % change m/m -17.46 +10.65 1.39 2.25 -0.48
*revised from +1.83 pct
(AGENCIES)
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