Thailand’s economy shrinks 9% after flood disruptions

Thailand’s economy contracted sharply in the last three months of 2011 after some of the worst flooding on record disrupted manufacturing.

 

Gross domestic product declined by 9% in the three months to December compared to a year earlier, the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) said.

Compared to the previous three months, the economy contracted by 10.7%.

The floods killed more than 700 people and covered two-thirds of the country.

Analysts said despite the poor numbers, the future outlook was not as bleak.

“The fourth-quarter figures reflected a worse-than-expected impact from the floods. The overall picture going forward will pick up,” said Pimonwan Mahujchariyawong from Kasikorn Research Centre.

The NESDB raised its forecast for 2012, saying it expects a rise in both public and private spending.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has said the country will spend 350 billion baht ($11bn; £7bn) on infrastructure after the floods.

The manufacturing index fell for the fourth month in a row and exports fell for a second month in December.

Honda, Toshiba and Fujitsu have all cut their profit forecasts because of disruption to production lines.

Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce said it was targeting a 15% increase in exports this year.

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