BANGKOK, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Thailand's manufacturing production index rose 2.52% in December from a year earlier, the industry ministry said on Thursday, stronger than analysts' forecasts.
The December figure compared with a year-on-year decline of 0.9% forecast in a Reuters poll, and followed a revised drop of 3.85% in November.
Manufacturing in December was boosted by auto production, industrial export growth and government measures, the ministry said.
Car production in Thailand, a regional automaking centre, rose 8.6% in December from a year earlier, according to the Federation of Thai Industries.
The index dropped 0.78% for the whole of 2025.
The strong baht pushed up export prices and eroded Thailand's competitiveness, the ministry said in a statement.
The currency has gained about 1% against the dollar so far this year, after a 9% rise in 2025.
(Reporting by Orathai Sriring, Kitiphong Thaichareon, Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by David Stanway)
