H. Yoo
Research expert covering South Korea
Electronics manufacturing industry in Thailand - statistics & facts
The electronics industry is one of the most impactful industries in the manufacturing sector in Thailand. In 2023, electronics products were among Thailand’s main exported products, amounting to over 33 billion U.S. dollars in value. In order to become a high-tech industrial hub, the Thai government has been making significant investments in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with smart electronics being one of the most important sectors. The EEC project, which spans the three eastern provinces of Chonburi, Rayong, and Chachoengsao, is an important driver in attracting FDI and promoting Thailand's Industry 4.0 strategy.
The competitiveness of Thailand’s electronics manufacturing industry
Thailand is considered a hub for electronics manufacturing worldwide. However, with only two to three percent market share of the global electronics exports, Thailand’s electronics manufacturing industry is relatively small compared to other regions like China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In the past years, there seemed to be several advantages for electronics production in Thailand, such as low-cost labor , being at the center of the ASEAN region, and being in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). But, with rapidly changing technologies and higher cost of labor, Thailand has struggled to be competitive against other neighboring countries like Vietnam and Malaysia. As of the third quarter of 2024, the manufacturing production index (MPI) of the electronics industry in Thailand stood at 65 points.Leading electronics manufacturers in Thailand
Most large-sized electronics manufacturers in Thailand produce integrated circuits and parts of hard disk drives, diodes, transistors, semiconductors, and capacitors. However, small and medium-scaled electronics manufacturers are limited in their technology development ability, producing lower-cost products such as parts and printers for HDDs, cables, and computer parts and equipment. Electronics manufacturers in the country are mostly international companies or joint ventures such as Seagate Technology (Thailand) Ltd. and Western Digital (Thailand) Co., Ltd. As for domestic electronics manufacturers, some of the leading manufacturers are Delta Electronics PCL, Hana Microelectronics PCL, SVI PCL, and KCE Electronics PCL. In 2023, the total revenue generated by Delta Electronics PCL was the highest, amounting to 148 billion Thai baht.
