Registration of new production-line machinery rose 8% annually in the first five months of the year, the Industrial Works Department reported on Thursday.
Registrations increased to 508 owners with 3,353 machines worth 34 billion baht.
Pasu Loharjun, director-general of the department, said the top five industries in which new machines were registered covered metal products, plastic products, printing, non-metal products and the businesses of polishing, grinding and milling.
The economy was looking brighter as operators were investing in business expansion, he said.
From January to May 2015, 470 operators had sought registration for 2,085 machines. Mr Pasu hoped that throughout this year about 1,300 owners will register machines worth 80 billion baht.
Last year 1,150 operators sought registration for 5,936 machines worth 42 billion baht. Figures in 2014 were higher with 1,449 operators seeking registration of 6,750 new machines worth 96 billion baht.
Mr Pasu also said that his department would spend 45 million baht on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in the next three years.
Funds will be lent to small and medium-sized enterprises that can use their machinery as collateral. It will also support a project for SMEs to acquire new machines with more efficiency, he said.