ส.อ.ท. เผยดัชนีเชื่อมั่นอุตฯ ก.ย. ขยับขึ้นแตะ 90.7 ชงรัฐรับมือน้ำท่วมเชิงรุก ลดต้นทุนพลังงาน–ดันสินค้า MiTFTI Reveals Industry Confidence Index for September at 90.7, Urges Government to Proactively Address Flood Issues, Reduce Energy Costs, and Promote MiT Products

Mrs. Pimjai Leeissaranukul, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), together with Dr. Virat Chatdarong, Vice Chairman of FTI and Chairman of Economics and Academic Affairs, and Dr. Piyanuch Malakul Na Ayuthya, Vice Chairman of FTI and Chairman of Corporate Communications, announced the results of the industry confidence index survey for September 2026, which stands at 90.70, an increase from 89.7 in August 2026. The survey was conducted between September 1-25, 2026.

The increase in the industry confidence index for September 2026 is supported by the reduction of electricity rates for the period of September to December 2026 from 3.95 Baht to 3.89 Baht per unit, which helps alleviate the cost burden for businesses and reduce the cost of living for citizens. At the same time, operators have seen an increase in orders in preparation for selling products during the year-end festive season, particularly in the processed food, furniture, fashion, and lifestyle product sectors.

Additionally, sales of personal passenger cars have shown a tendency to rise, especially battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which increased by 100.8% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) increased by 35.3% in the first eight months of 2026. Furthermore, the demand for technology products continues to grow, driven by investments in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and data centers. Similarly, the "Thai Help Thai Plus" project has helped boost sales for small retailers, as sale data can be utilized to enhance access to credit through the AI "Whispering Bird" system.

However, the industrial sector still faces several risks, particularly the flooding situation in central and eastern regions, which has caused damage to residences and businesses and impacted the transportation of raw materials. This has led to interruptions in the supply chain for certain industries towards the end of September. FTI continues to monitor the water situation and expedite assistance for operators and members, both in preparedness for the flooding and supporting affected businesses, as well as coordinating with the government on relief measures to help businesses return to normal operations quickly.

Moreover, the average diesel price in September 2026 increased by 7.29% from the previous month to 40.28 Baht per liter, resulting in higher energy costs that pressure operators' profit margins, especially for SMEs with limited capacity to cope with fluctuating costs.

On the international transportation front, freight rates for shipping routes have risen, with the route to Australia increasing by 63% from the previous month, the East Coast of the United States by 7%, and the West Coast by 0.8%, which has increased export costs and pressured the performance of Thai exporters.

Another significant challenge is the price competition from imported goods, particularly consumer goods, which has increased by 8.3% compared to the same period last year, resulting in sales pressures for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) due to their limitations in reducing prices to compete with imports. Additionally, SMEs continue to encounter challenges in accessing funding and credit, which hinders their business operations and expansion.

From a survey of 1,330 operators across 48 industry groups of FTI in September 2026, it was found that the factors causing concern among operators have decreased: domestic economic concerns at 51.9%, government policy at 30.5%, and loan interest rates at 16.8%. Conversely, concerns that have increased are energy prices at 66.1%, global economic conditions at 64.1%, exchange rates (particularly from the exporters' perspective) at 28.0%, and access to credit at 25.1%.

The industry confidence index is projected to be at 97.70 over the next three months, an increase from 97.0 in August 2026, reflecting a positive outlook on the industrial sector's future trend. Key supporting factors include trade agreements regarding tariffs and the extension of the trade ceasefire between the United States and China, which help ease global trade tensions. Additionally, the demand for construction materials, furniture, and electrical appliances is expected to increase due to home repairs and replacement of damaged items resulting from flooding. Furthermore, the renewal of the "Thai Help Thai Plus (Additional)" project is anticipated to help sustain domestic consumption momentum and support the income of SMEs in the year-end period.

However, operators must continue to monitor risks related to the flooding situation in certain areas, which may have ongoing impacts on recovery efforts after the water levels recede, as well as the speed and comprehensiveness of government relief measures. The costs associated with recovering affected businesses and factories from flooding may exacerbate liquidity issues for operators, especially SMEs. In addition, conflicts in the Middle East and the war between Russia and Ukraine have added uncertainty regarding production costs and raw material supply, potentially affecting operators' production planning and working capital in the future.

Recommendations to the Government
FTI recommends that the government urgently implement three key measures to alleviate impacts and enhance the competitiveness of the Thai industrial sector as follows:
1. Elevate proactive flood management. The government is advised to enhance flood management to proactive risk management by integrating comprehensive water situation data to assess risks and provide early warnings. Clear command structures and coordination mechanisms should be established to address cross-regional and cross-basin impacts, coupled with expediting coordination with insurance companies to assess damages and quickly process compensation to alleviate the burden on citizens and expedite recovery for affected businesses.
2. Promote energy conservation and reduce cost burdens. The government is recommended to issue measures to campaign for and promote energy conservation to mitigate fluctuations from energy prices, such as offering discounts on electricity costs based on reduced electricity usage to incentivize citizens and businesses to save energy. Financial support for improving production processes and installing solar cells to reduce energy consumption, as well as encouragement to replace old appliances with domestically produced energy-saving products labeled with number 5 through discount coupons, should also be extended.
3. Accelerate the promotion of Made in Thailand (MiT) products. The government is urged to expedite the promotion of Made in Thailand (MiT) products in public procurement and state-owned enterprises, both for construction works and procurement of equipment across all agencies, along with creating incentives for the private sector to use MiT products.

FTI has compiled the results of the industrial confidence index survey and economic and industrial indicators from the past three years into a dashboard, which is published on the Industry Data Space (iDS) website to facilitate access to information for operators and the public for business use. This information can be accessed at https://fti.or.th/ids.