Annual industrial output rose for second straight month in August, beating forecasts, helped by the stronger production of car and car engines, rubber and electronics, and suggesting the economic recovery is gaining traction.
The manufacturing production index (MPI) in August rose 3.74% from a year earlier, the Industry Ministry said on Friday.
The median forecast in a Reuters poll was a 2.8% rise. July's index was revised to a 3.43% year-on-year increase from a 3.73% rise reported earlier.
In the January-August period, the index was up 1% from a year earlier. Capacity utilisation at factories in August rose to 62.46% from a revised 60% in July.
Industrial goods accounted for about 80% of total exports, which jumped 13.2% in August from a year earlier, customs data showed. Exports, a key driver of growth, have recovered in 2017 after years of weakness.
The Bank of Thailand on Wednesday raised its 2017 economic growth forecast to 3.8% from 3.5%, with exports rising 8%.
Last year's economic growth was 3.2%, which still lagged regional peers.