BANGKOK, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's industrial confidence improved in January, driven by accelerated production to meet Chinese New Year demand and a surge in tourists during high season, data showed on Wednesday.
The Thai industrial sentiment index inched up to 88.7 last month from 88.2 in December 2025, as key components of the index picked up, except operating costs and turnover, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
The reading was based on a survey of 1,300 entrepreneurs across 48 industry groups under the FTI.
The rebound was attributed to the government's tourism promotion measures, which include launching direct flights and organizing events to help distribute income to regional areas and local entrepreneurs, said FTI Vice Chairman Nava Chantanasurakon.
Campaign activities leading up to the February general election also helped stimulate spending in both the public and private sectors, resulting in increased money circulation within the system, Nava told a news conference.
The index forecast for the next three months stood at 95.9 in the January survey, up from 95.7 a month earlier, supported by an expected rise in domestic consumption during the Songkran Festival, along with economic policies and public budget disbursement by the incoming government, he noted.
However, he emphasized the need to monitor uncertainties surrounding geopolitical conflicts and trade wars, which could potentially damage the global trade environment and elevate supply chain risks in the near future.
The group also urged the government to expedite budget allocations for artificial intelligence training for entrepreneurs, particularly small- to medium-sized businesses, to improve efficiency and lower costs in the Thai industrial sector. ■