Industrial sentiment drops in March, US tariffs a concern
text size

Industrial sentiment drops in March, US tariffs a concern

Listen to this article
Play
Pause
Map Ta Phut industrial estate, Rayong province. (File photo)
Map Ta Phut industrial estate, Rayong province. (File photo)

Thailand's industrial sentiment in March fell for the first time in three months, with a future index pointing to a further fall on concerns about US tariffs, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said on Tuesday.

The FTI's industrial sentiment index dropped to 91.8 in March from 93.4 in February.

Another FTI index that projects sentiment over the next three months also fell for the first time in three months, to 95.7 in March from 97.6 in a previous survey, the FTI said.

Thailand is among the Southeast Asian nations hardest hit by US President Donald Trump's measures, with a 36% tariff imposed. However, a 90-day pause on the US tariffs is positive, giving Thailand more time to prepare, FTI vice chairman Apichit Prasoprat told a briefing.

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said Thai-US trade talks had been postponed from April 23, without giving a reason.

The United States was Thailand's largest export market last year, accounting for 18.3% of total shipments, or US$54.96 billion. Washington has put its deficit with Thailand at $45.6 billion.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT