Thailand's Industrial Output Index Falls In April

[george]

Thailand's Industrial Output Index falls in April

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s Industrial Output Index in April shrank 12.84 per cent from the same month last year, despite many industries showing signs of coming recovery, according to the Industrial Economics Office (IEO).

Director-General Arthit Vuthikaro said the index had risen for three consecutive months from contraction sof 25.6 per cent in January, 23.07 per cent in February, and 17.74 per cent in March.

The reduced contraction of the index is considered a positive sign as many industries began to receive purchase order and led to increased employment following layoffs of industrial workers late last year.

In particular, he said, electronics producers had received numbers of purchase orders from China, which had accelerated its national development.

Also, carmakers and hard disk producers received many purchase orders from China, resulting in the April index shrinking in a narrower range.

In short, the output index (value-added) in April stayed at 146.66 points, down 12.8 per cent from 168.27 in the same month the year before, the goods delivery index at 140.69, down 16.69 per cent from 168.88, the index on labour in the industrial sector at 102.49, down 5 per cent from 107.88, and the inventory index at 224.50, up 11.41 per cent from 201.50.

-- TNA 2009-05-28