Thailand’s MPI in Jan suffers contraction 3.3%

BANGKOK, March 1 (TNA) -- Thailand’s Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) in January contracted 3.3 per cent year-on-year, but up 2.25 per cent from last December, said Siriruj Chulakaratana, director-general of Office of Industrial Economics. Major industrial goods index that retreated in January were electronics parts, auto parts, iron and steel as they were bought late last year on measures to stimulate the purchase, said Mr Siriruj. MPI for significant industrial production which decline were automobile 11.69 per cent. Production totaled 147,651 units while exports rose 1.38 per cent to 93,714 units. Vegetable oil, petroleum and paper products rose 1.04 per cent on the increase of local consumption. Exports of industrial goods, excluding gold, contracted 7 per cent. However, key importing countries including the European Union, the US and Japan imported more, enabling electronics industry in January to increase 10.34 per cent. Imports of capital goods also rose 0.9 per cent in January. But imports of raw materials and semi-finished products, excluding gold, contracted 16.9 per cent. (TNA)