February index records minor slip
Thai exports are likely to be indirectly affected by banking problems in the US and Europe, slowing an already sluggish sector and causing a drop in the Manufacturing Production Index (MPI), according to the Office of Industrial Economics (OIE).
The index dipped 0.45% to 98.9 points in February on a monthly basis, with the March MPI unlikely to improve as foreign demand for Thai products remains weak amid a sluggish economy in the US and European countries, said Warawan Chitaroon, director-general of the OIE.
Banking turbulence in the US, Switzerland and Germany could hamper Thai exports, though the local financial sector only expects a limited impact.
The California-based Silicon Valley Bank and New York-based…