Factory output in Thailand remains weak, with the manufacturing production index in April falling 0.36% from a year earlier, the Ministry of Industry said on Thursday.
The April reading compared with a year-on-year increase of 0.2% forecast in a Reuters poll, and followed a gain of 1.3% the previous month.
Factory output for the full year is forecast to rise by between 1.0% and 2.0%, lower than the earlier predicted range of 1.5% to 2.5%.
Output fell due to the impact of the war in the Middle East and higher costs that put pressure on profits, the ministry said.
Tourism, a key economic driver, also weakened, impacting related industries.
For the first quarter output grew 0.94% annually, the ministry said.
The outlook for May should be higher if compared to a month-on-month basis, it said.
