Thai economy has minor July expansion, overall performance remains lacklustre: BOT
In July 2019, the Thai economy expanded at a slightly higher pace than in the previous month, according to the Bank of Thailand at a press conference on Friday.
The BOT said that private consumption indicators improved on the back of spending on durable and semi-durable goods, although overall private consumption continued to be on a decelerating trend relative to the first half of this year. Public spending rebounded from central government expenditures, while capital expenditures of state enterprises continued to contract.
Private investment indicators were flat. On the external front, the value of merchandise exports slightly expanded, owing mainly to gold exports. Excluding gold, export value growth remained negative, consistent with the decrease in manufacturing production. The tourism sector expanded at a higher rate due to an increase in the number of Chinese and Indian tourists, the former partly due to the low base effect from the tour boat incident in Phuket last year.
On the stability front, headline inflation edged higher mainly on the back of the increase in fresh food prices, while core inflation decelerated. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from the previous month. The current account registered a surplus, attributed mainly to the trade balance. The capital and financial accounts posted a surplus on both the assets and the liabilities positions.
BOT added that private consumption indicators expanded at a higher rate from the same period of last year on the back of spending on durable goods, attributed to the increase in the number of newly registered motorcycles and the number of commercial car sales, as well as on the spending on semi-durable goods, attributed to the retail sales of semi-durable goods and garment imports. Meanwhile, spending on non-durable goods and services moderated and remained unchanged, respectively. Overall, private consumption expanded at a softer pace compared to the first half of this year, partly due to weakening supporting factors, consistent with the continual deterioration of consumer confidence. Non-farm income turned into contraction as the number of employed persons decreased. Farm income expanded at a softer pace mainly from agricultural prices, particularly fruits, while agricultural production was unchanged.
Public spending, excluding transfers, rebounded from the same period last year from both current and capital expenditures of the central government. Current spending slightly increased mainly from compensation of civil servants as a result of an increase in pension disbursement. Capital spending increased from disbursement of the Department of Highways and the Royal Thai Police. However, capital spending of state enterprises continued to decrease from lower disbursement of PTT Public Co Ltd and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand.
The value of merchandise exports expanded by 3.8 per cent from the same period last year, which was the first positive growth in 8 months. However, the value of merchandise exports excluding gold continued to contract at 1.7 per cent. The continued contraction can be attributed to weaker global demand as a result of slower economic growth in a number of major trading economies, the trade conflict between the US and China, the continued downturn in the electronic cycle and the contraction of global crude oil prices.
The contraction was mainly due to the decrease in exports of petroleum-related products from both prices and export volume, as well as of electronic products, especially hard disk drives, integrated circuits, printed circuit boards and cellular phones. However, hard disk drive exports showed a recovery sign supported by the relocation of the production base from Malaysia. However, exports in several categories continued to expand, partly due to the substitution of Chinese goods in the US market, such as television sets, refrigerators, car tyres, canned fish and garments. In addition, exports of air-conditioners continued to expand on the back of warmer than usual temperatures, particularly in Europe and Australia. Moreover, exports of fruit to China continued to expand, despite China’s economic slowdown.
The value of merchandise imports expanded by 0.9 per cent from the same period last year, and excluding gold, the value of merchandise imports expanded by 4.2 per cent. The expansion was attributable to an increase in three factors. First, the increase in imports of raw and intermediate goods excluding fuel, particularly steels and electronic parts, while imports of crude oil contracted from both prices and volume partly due to the continual shutdown of oil refineries for maintenance from the previous month. Second, the increase in imports of capital goods excluding aircrafts, ships, floating structures, and locomotives, particularly steam turbine and machinery for sugar production. Third, an increase in imports of consumer goods, especially non-durable goods accelerated this month partly due to the low base effect of some goods, such as jewellery and electrical appliances.
The number of Chinese tourists rebounded from the low base effect as a result of the tour boat incident in Phuket last year, while the number of Indian tourists benefited from the exemption of the visa on arrival fee. However, the number of tourists from Europe decreased, particularly the number of Russian tourists following an economic slowdown.
Private investment indicators, on net, were unchanged from the same period last year. Investment in machinery and equipment slightly expanded. Meanwhile, investment in construction contracted from the continual decline in permitted construction area, except for areas for manufacturing purposes which expanded. Moreover, construction material sales contracted following the contraction of concrete pile sales, consistent with the slowdown in the real estate sector. After seasonal adjustment, private investment indicators were unchanged from the previous month.
On the stability front, headline inflation edged higher to 0.98 per cent from 0.87 per cent last month, due mainly to an increase in fresh food prices, coupled with a smaller contraction in energy prices following an increase in domestic retail petroleum prices as a result of a rise in global crude oil prices. Meanwhile, core inflation decelerated from the previous month, reflecting a slowdown in domestic demand. The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased from last month. The current account registered a surplus due mainly to an increase in the trade surplus. The overall capital and financial accounts registered a surplus from both the assets and liabilities positions.
