FTI's Buy Thai and Production Unlocking to Boost GDP

Khaosod•Economy•2d ago

Reader Briefing

The Federation of Thai Industries proposes the Buy Thai project and production unlocking measures to increase industrial GDP by 140 billion baht.

•Pimjai Lee-Issaranukul, Chairperson of the Federation of Thai Industries, reported a K-shaped economic recovery in Q2/2026.
•The Federation of Thai Industries suggests a 'Buy Thai' campaign targeting high-employment sectors with excess capacity.
•Production unlocking measures include conditional oil exports and promoting Made in Thailand (MiT) criteria in government projects.
•Increasing the Capacity Utilization Rate from 57.5% to 62.5% is estimated to add 140 billion baht to industrial GDP.

•The Thai economy in Q2/2026 expanded by 1.9 percent compared to the same period last year.
•Pimjai Lee-Issaranukul noted that the recovery is K-shaped, with large enterprises showing a TISI of 105.5 while small enterprises are at 75.3 for July.
•The average Capacity Utilization Rate (CapU) was 57.47 percent, a decrease of 3.2 percent from the previous year.
•Low production capacity is attributed to energy cost pressures, policy restrictions such as oil refinery limits, and investment growth exceeding production.
•The Federation of Thai Industries proposes the Buy Thai project to stimulate demand for textiles, apparel, footwear, furniture, and household goods.
•The Federation of Thai Industries suggests accelerating government construction projects using Made in Thailand (MiT) criteria to revive steel and construction material orders.
•A 5-point increase in CapU to 62.5 percent is projected to increase industrial GDP by approximately 140,000 million baht or 0.7 percent of GDP.
•Total investment in Q2/2026 grew by 9.1 percent, with private investment increasing by 13.4 percent.

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Federation of Thai Industries(ส.อ.ท.)ℹ️

The organization proposing the Buy Thai project and production unlocking measures to boost industrial GDP.

Pimjai Lee-Issaranukul(นางพิมพ์ใจ ลี้อิสสระนุกูล)

Chairperson of the Federation of Thai Industries.

Buy Thai

A project aimed at creating demand for Thai finished goods with high employment and excess capacity.

Made in Thailand (MiT)

A criterion promoted for use in government construction projects to revive steel and construction material orders.