Thailand investment rises 28 percent in third quarter of 2026

Actual investment in Thailand reached 260,680 million baht during the third quarter of 2026, representing a 28 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The Board of Investment reported this growth, which was primarily driven by significant surges in the digital and electronics sectors. This quarterly performance contributes to a total investment of 796,540 million baht for the first nine months of 2026, a 27 percent increase from the previous year.

Digital and electronics drive growth

The digital sector emerged as the largest single investment area in the third quarter of 2026, recording 64,180 million baht. This figure represents an increase of over seven times compared to the previous year. The electronics and electrical appliances sector also showed strong performance, with investment totaling 61,170 million baht, a 20 percent increase year-on-year.

Combined, the digital and electronics sectors accounted for over 125,000 million baht in the third quarter. This combined total represents nearly half of the total investment recorded during this three-month period. Other significant sectors included agriculture and food processing, which saw 27,072 million baht in investment, and energy and basic utilities, which recorded 23,988 million baht.

Sectoral breakdown and implementation

The automotive and parts sector recorded 18,181 million baht in investment during the third quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, investment in minerals, metals, and materials reached 15,227 million baht. The tourism sector accounted for 11,193 million baht in investment during this period.

Regarding specific capital expenditures, 136,500 million baht was spent on machinery, which marks a 37 percent increase. Construction spending reached 96,279 million baht, representing a 39 percent increase. Additionally, 27,906 million baht was invested in land and other items. Narut Therdsteerasukki, the Secretary General of the Board of Investment, said "The growth in construction and machinery spending indicates that many large-scale projects have moved from the planning stage to actual implementation."

Future investment projections

The Board of Investment has upgraded its monitoring of actual investment to a quarterly basis. This change allows the agency to track construction, machinery, and other investment items more closely to better reflect economic progress. Based on current trends, the Board of Investment expects total actual investment for the full year 2026 to exceed 1 trillion baht.

Glossary

• Board of Investment — The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) is a government agency under the Office of the Prime Minister. Its mission is to promote foreign investment in Thailand by providing information, services, and incentives. The agency also establishes investment promotion policies and supports Thai investors looking to invest abroad.
• baht — The baht is Thailand's currency. The issuance of its banknotes is managed by the Bank of Thailand.