MPI for April 2016 up 1.54% YoY

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MPI for April 2016 up 1.54% YoY

BANGKOK, 2 June 2016 (NNT) – The Office of Industrial Economics (OIE) has indicated that the Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) edged up by 1.54 percent in April, thanks to growth in the country’s main industries.

OIE Director Siriruj Chulakaratana revealed that the overall MPI for April this year posted an expansion of 1.54 percent compared to the same month last year. He attributed such improvement to better performances of major industries, such as automobiles, electrical appliances and electronics, iron and steel, and petroleum.

A total of 138,237 cars were produced in April, increasing 11.51 percent from last year. Growth of 3.84 percent was reported in the electrical appliance and electronics industry, with significant expansion in such products as air conditioners and compressors, rice cookers, electric wires and television sets.

Meanwhile, the iron and steel industry saw a year-on-year increase of 5.31 percent due to rising demand in April. A decline in oil prices, coupled with the government’s promotion of domestic travel, also lent a boost to the petroleum industry.

On the other hand, food production and exports experienced contraction of 14.6 percent and 5.3 percent respectively. The production of sugar was hampered by drought, but the production and exports of fruits and vegetables went up 4.7 percent and 14.2 percent respectively following an increase in purchase orders from overseas.


-- NNT 2016-06-02