Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) is set to revise its 2025 GDP growth forecast following the US confirmation of a 19% tariff on Thai exports.
The NESDC released Thailand’s second-quarter GDP figures on August 18, alongside its updated economic outlook for 2025.
Thailand’s economy is expected to maintain growth in the second quarter, after expanding 3.1% year-on-year in the first quarter. The momentum has been driven largely by strong exports, as Thai manufacturers accelerated shipments to the US ahead of Washington’s tariff hike. In the first half of 2025, Thailand’s exports totalled 166.85 billion USD, up 15%.
At an earlier press briefing, the NESDC had already lowered its 2025 GDP growth forecast from 2.3–3.3% (midpoint 2.8%) to 1.3–2.3% (midpoint 1.8%), reflecting uncertainty surrounding US trade measures. In its upcoming revision, the council may keep the forecast range unchanged but adjust its baseline assumptions, likely bringing the midpoint closer to 2%.
The move aligns with downward revisions by other Thai economic agencies, including the Bank of Thailand (BoT) and the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO).
The BoT recently raised its growth projection to 2.3%, up from about 2% in April. However, the central bank warned that growth could slow to just 1.3% if trade negotiations with the US break down.
Meanwhile, in July 2025, the FPO revised its forecast slightly upward from 2.1% to 2.2%. The adjustment was based on stronger-than-expected industrial recovery, improved export performance, rising household consumption, and continued momentum from both public and private investment in the second half of the year.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) currently projects Thailand’s economy to grow around 1.8% in 2025. However, the IMF noted that its next assessment could see an upward revision, given Thailand’s stronger-than-expected export growth./.
