BANGKOK, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's manufacturing sector continued to grow in January as both new order inflows and output remained in expansion but at slower paces, a survey showed on Monday.
The Southeast Asian country's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) came in at 52.7 last month, plunging from 57.4 in December 2025, marking a ninth successive month of improvement in operating conditions and the softest rate in five months, according to S&P Global.
A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion in the manufacturing sector, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction.
The slowing new business growth was partly due to another drop in incoming export orders, as subdued foreign conditions dampened demand for Thai-manufactured products, S&P Global said in a statement.
However, increased backlogs prompted manufacturers to hire more staff, in line with expanded purchasing activity as firms acquired more raw materials to replenish stocks, the statement said.
It was positive to see resilient domestic demand supporting the latest rise in production and fueling a renewed increase in staffing levels, said Jingyi Pan, economics associate director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Forward-looking indicators, such as new orders, work backlogs, and future output indices, all pointed to the likelihood of ongoing output growth in the months ahead, Pan said.
She noted that despite rising costs, Thai goods producers further lowered average selling prices, adding to margin pressure. The impact on profits will thus need to be closely monitored. ■