BANGKOK: Thai factory output fell for a 22nd straight month in January, providing further evidence that the economy continues to struggle.
Nine months after the army seized power to end political unrest, the military government has been unable to get Thailand's two major growth engines - exports and domestic demand - into a higher gear.
On Friday, the Industry Ministry said factory output in January fell 1.31 percent from a year earlier, twice the 0.65 percent drop forecast in a Reuters poll.
January's result extended the streak during which output has been lower on an annual basis to 22 months. The latest fall reflects still-stumbling exports, which unexpectedly contracted 3.5 percent in January from a year earlier.
Santitarn Sathirathai, senior economist with Credit Suisse in Singapore, said the streak of declines is worrying as it indicates structural problems and "it's a sign Thailand is losing competitiveness in some of the key manufacturing sectors".
Thailand is a regional hub and export base for global automakers. In one January bright spot, car production had an annual increase in 19 months, a 2.3 percent rise, the ministry said.
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