According to official figures released on Monday, Thailand’s economy recorded higher-than-anticipated growth in the final quarter of 2025, as robust industrial activity and retail trade offset weakness in agriculture.
The country’s gross domestic product expanded by 2.5% year-on-year from October to December, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) announced, outpacing the 1.2% growth achieved in 3Q25 and the 1.0% median estimate from a Reuters survey.
On a seasonally adjusted quarterly basis, the economy grew by 1.9%, outstripping the forecast of 0.3% and marking the most rapid rate in four years.
For the full year, GDP growth reached 2.4%. The planning agency revised its 2026 growth projection to a range of 1.5% to 2.5%, up from its earlier forecast of 1.2% to 2.2%.
As Thailand faces lingering challenges such as U.S. trade tariffs, elevated household debt levels, and an appreciating baht, the council anticipates that exports will increase by 2.0% in 2026, improving from an earlier projection of a 0.3% decline.
The Bhumjaitai party, led by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, secured the most parliamentary seats in the recent general election and is currently working to form a coalition government.
Market participants hope that political stability and swift coalition-building could accelerate fiscal measures to support growth, with consumer sentiment expected to rise in January.
