Thailand’s business sentiment index fell in April in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors, with almost all components worsening, while cost confidence remained low, Bank of Thailand reported on Tuesday.
The BSI slipped to 48.2 in April, but almost all sub-indices stayed above the 50-point threshold, apart from cost confidence, which remained low, particularly in manufacturing and real estate, that were impacted by volatility in global raw material and energy prices as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war.
In addition to the gradual expiration of the government economic stimulus programs, the sentiment of production, performance and total order books decreased significantly. Confidence worsened in the manufacturing sector as a consequence of significant declines in performance and production sub-indices following a more severe supply shortage and temporary factors such as fewer working days than the previous month due to a long Songkran holiday.
Meanwhile, the non-manufacturing sector sentiment index fell slightly as some service and trade enterprises profited temporarily from the festival, boosting their order books and performance confidence.
