BANGKOK, 18 May 2012 – Thai industrial sentiment has continued to improve for the third consecutive month in April due to a number of positive factors. Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) chairman Payungsak Chartsuthipol said on Thursday that the country’s industrial confidence index stood at 104.0 in April, up from 102.1 recorded in March.
Mr. Payungsak stated that the continued rise in the index was attributed by an increase in overall sales, production, and earnings.
He said that the index has been rising for 3 consecutive months and such a scenario showed that the manufacturing sector should have completely returned to normal.
However, the FTI chairman warned that higher oil prices have caused the biggest worry to industrial operators, followed by foreign exchange volatility, global economic conditions, domestic political situation and the country’s lending rates.
He went on to say that the 3-month index was at 112.6 in April, also up from 109.5 in March.
Mr. Payungsak added that industrialists have been urging the government to speedily boost local consumption and sales while reducing the cost of living.
They also want the government to come up with additional measures to help operators cope with rising costs, particularly after the new 300-baht minimum wage has been implemented, and to introduce more clear-cut disaster prevention policies.
