BANGKOK, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's industrial output extended a decline for the 18th consecutive month in March due to a continued fall in automotive manufacturing amid high household debt and interest rates, official data showed on Tuesday.

The manufacturing production index dropped 5.13 percent last month from a year earlier, the sharpest pace since last September and accelerating from a revised 2.79 percent decrease in February, according to the Ministry of Industry.

The shrink was attributed to the eighth straight month of contraction in auto production both for the local market and exports, coupled with the country's sluggish exports, which saw industrial product shipments fall for the first time in six months owing to last year's high comparative base, the ministry said in a statement.

However, an ongoing expansion in tourism remained a supportive factor for related industries, such as food and beverage and oil refining.

For the first quarter of 2024, the index contracted 3.65 percent year on year, dragged down by a falling output of automotive products, electronic components, palm oil, sugar, as well as computers and peripherals, said the ministry's Office of Industrial Economics Director-General Warawan Chitaroon.

Looking forward, the increase in diesel prices is expected to raise production costs, as many industries rely heavily on diesel fuel. Additionally, it will increase transportation costs, which could lead to higher product prices, impacting the cost of living and potentially causing inflation, Warawan told a news conference. Enditem

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