Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2026 is forecast at just 1.6–2%, the lowest rate in the past 30 years, while export growth is expected to range from -1.5% to -0.5%, and inflation is projected at 0.2–0.7%.
Speaking at the monthly meeting on January 7, Dr. Poj Aramwattananont, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade, warned that Thailand faces the slowest growth in the region, hampered by both longstanding structural fragilities and mounting external pressures.
The private sector coalition identified a confluence of challenges weighing on the Thai economy, The Nation reported.
Domestically, the country grapples with a substantial informal economy, elevated household debt, limited fiscal capacity, and regulatory complexity that hampers data connectivity across government agencies.
These structural issues are compounded by the lingering effects of last year's natural disasters, rising cybercrime, grey capital flows, and potential delays in the budgetary process.
Of particular concern is the Thai baht's 8.2% appreciation over the past year – the second-strongest performance in the region.
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry, and Banking (JSCCIB) expressed growing concern over global economic uncertainty stemming from geopolitical factors.
The impact of US tariff measures is becoming more apparent, with Thai exports excluding electronics already showing contraction, reflecting heightened uncertainty for the Thai economy./.
