Thailand’s Digital GDP to Hit 5.7tn Baht as AI Exports Surge

 

 

Driven by global AI demand, Thailand’s digital economy is projected to reach 5.7 trillion baht in 2026, outpacing overall GDP growth by 2.2 times.

 

Thailand’s digital economy is projected to expand by 5.6 per cent in 2026, reaching a valuation of 5.7 trillion baht ($171.8 billion). According to forecasts released by the National Board of Digital Economy and Society Office (BDE), the sector is set to grow 2.2 times faster than the country's overall gross domestic product (GDP), establishing itself as a vital engine for national growth.

 

Reporting by Thansettakij journalist Chutimon Khampa reveals that Wetang Phuangsup, secretary-general of the BDE, unveiled the projections for 2026 and 2027, highlighting the sector’s resilience against broader macroeconomic headwinds.

 

The BDE expects Thailand's digital GDP (measured in chain-volume measures, or CVM) to significantly outshine the wider national economy, which the Fiscal Policy Office estimates will grow by 2.5 per cent.

 

The digital surge is largely propelled by a structural upturn across global electronics markets, particularly the booming demand for artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

 

In the first half of 2026, Thailand’s digital exports surged by 45 per cent. The figure aligns with findings from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which ranks Thailand among the world’s top four major exporters of AI hardware, alongside Taiwan, South Korea, and Malaysia.

 

Broad-based expansion across key pillars

The BDE’s data shows acceleration across investment, domestic consumption, and international trade:

Investment: Total digital investment is forecast to expand by 8.9 per cent in 2026, up from 4.5 per cent in 2025. Private sector investment is expected to lead the charge with a 9.2 per cent increase, spurred by capital expenditure in AI infrastructure, data centres, cloud services, and printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing. Public sector investment is projected to rebound to 3.3 per cent growth as smart government initiatives gain momentum.

 

Consumption: Private digital consumption is set to rise by 4.2 per cent as consumer habits shift toward digital-first lifestyles. Public digital consumption is forecast to grow by 5.1 per cent following increased budgetary allocations for technology integration.

 

Trade: Exports of digital goods and services are projected to rise by 22.2 per cent, while imports will grow by 24.0 per cent to satisfy domestic demand for components needed to construct AI infrastructure.
 

 

 

Sectoral performance and 2027 outlook

Sector-by-sector data indicates positive expansion across all categories in 2026:

 

Software: Expected to lead growth at 9.4 per cent, rising further to 9.7 per cent in 2027.

Smart Devices: Forecast to grow by 8.1 per cent, bolstered by demand for AI-processing hardware.

Hardware: Projected to increase by 7.7 per cent, buoyed by the broader electronics cycle.

Digital Services & Telecommunications: Both sectors are forecast to expand by 3.9 per cent, with telecom growth underpinned by rising 5G data traffic and cloud usage.

 

Looking ahead to 2027, the BDE anticipates digital GDP growth to accelerate further to 6.3 per cent, supported by a broader global economic recovery.

 

The IMF projects global GDP growth of 3.4 per cent for 2027, while the World Trade Organisation (WTO) expects global trade volume to expand by 2.6 per cent.

 

However, Wetang warned that external vulnerabilities could pose challenges to the outlook.

 

Key risks to monitor include ongoing geopolitical volatility in the Middle East, potential U.S. Section 301 tariff measures, intensifying regional competition for digital investment, and supply chain disruptions caused by extreme weather events or imported digital products.