Thailand overhauls factory output index as electronics gain weight

nationthailand.com Sep 21, 2026

Thailand overhauls factory output index as electronics gain weight

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 21, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Thai authorities are revamping the Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) to better capture real factory output, giving greater weight to electronics and incorporating data from newly established plants. The overhaul follows criticism that the current MPI, compiled by the Ministry of Industry, relies on an ageing factory sample and failed to reflect rising exports in 2024. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas ordered five agencies to shift from voluntary to compulsory reporting, with non‑compliant factories facing potential licence sanctions. The base year will be moved from 2021 to 2024, and the Office of Industrial Economics will detail the new methodology before the NESDC uses it for GDP calculations. Thailand also plans to adopt chain‑volume measures, aligning its statistics with regional peers and addressing USTR concerns over excess capacity in autos, machinery and rubber.

💡 Why It Matters

· Accurate, up‑to‑date output data will curb U.S.
· trade‑probe doubts and give policymakers a reliable gauge of Thailand’s shift toward high‑tech manufacturing.

Capsules Policies

Read full article on nationthailand.com

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