BANGKOK (XINHUA) – Thailand’s manufacturing sector maintained its expansion for the fourth successive month in August as new orders rose amid further strong increases in output and purchasing, a survey showed yesterday.
The Southeast Asian country’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) was recorded at 52.0 last month, easing from the 13-month high of 52.8 in July, signaling an overall improvement in manufacturing sector performance, according to S&P Global.
A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion in the manufacturing sector, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction.
The volume of new orders increased for the second straight month, driven by both new customers and larger contracts with existing clients. As a result, output grew significantly, despite at a slightly slower pace compared to June and July, S&P Global said in a statement.
Employment growth remained robust, nearly matching the survey record high posted two months earlier, while the goods-producing sector was on track for its strongest quarter since the second quarter of 2023, said Trevor Balchin, economics director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.
