Mr. Titanun Mallikamas, Secretary of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), announced
The Committee voted unanimously to maintain the policy rate at 1.75 percent.
In deliberating their policy decision, the Committee assessed that the Thai economy would
expand at a slower pace than the previous assessment mainly due to merchandise and services
exports. Inflation was projected to be in line with the previous forecast. Overall financial conditions
remained accommodative and conducive to economic growth. However, there were pockets of
risks to financial stability in the future that warranted continued monitoring. The Committee viewed
that the current accommodative monetary policy stance contributed to the continuation of
economic growth and was appropriate given the inflation target. The Committee thus voted to
The Thai economy was expected to expand at a slower pace than previously assessed.
Merchandise exports would grow at a significantly slower pace than the previous assessment due
to the slowdown of trading partner economies and global trade, which were affected by intensifying
trade tensions, particularly between the US and China. Tourism would grow at a lower rate relative
to the previous assessment due mainly to Chinese tourist figures. Regarding domestic demand,
private consumption was expected to continue expanding. Nevertheless, private consumption
would be restrained by elevated household debt, with signs of moderation in earnings and
employment in the export-related manufacturing sectors. Private investment was projected to slow
down. However, the relocation of production base to Thailand and public-private partnership
projects for infrastructure investment would support investment in the period ahead. Meanwhile,
public expenditure would grow at a slower pace than previously estimated due to the expected
delay in the enactment of the Annual Budget Expenditure Act, B.E. 2563 (A.D. 2020) as well as
postponement of some state-owned enterprise investment. The Committee would monitor
external risks from trade tensions, the economic outlook of China and advanced economies that
could affect domestic demand, as well as geopolitical risks. Furthermore, the Committee would
monitor policy implementation of the new government and public expenditure, as well as the
progress of major infrastructure investment and its knock-on effects on private investment, which
The annual average of headline inflation would be largely unchanged from the previous
projection, although fresh food prices were expected to increase from the previous meeting.
Meanwhile, core inflation would be mostly in line with the previous projection. The Committee
viewed that structural changes contributed to more persistent inflation than in the past. Such
changes included the expansion of e-commerce, rising price competition, and technological
Financial conditions over the previous period had been accommodative and conducive to
economic growth, with ample liquidity in the financial system. Real interest rates remained at a
low level, allowing financing by the private sector to continue expanding. Loans extended to
businesses and consumers continued to grow. With regard to exchange rates, the baht appreciated
at a somewhat fast pace and outperformed regional currencies, which was a result of the weakening
US dollar, short-term capital inflows, and domestic factors. The Committee expressed concerns
over the baht appreciation which might not be consistent with economic fundamentals and would
continue to closely monitor developments of exchange rates and capital inflows.
Financial stability remained sound overall but there remained a need to monitor risks that
might pose vulnerabilities to financial stability in the future. The Committee viewed that the
implemented macroprudential measures and the increased policy rate had to some extent curbed
accumulation of vulnerabilities in the financial system from the search-for-yield behavior in the low
interest rate environment that might lead to underpricing of risks. Nevertheless, the Committee
would monitor household debt accumulation driven particularly by auto-related loans, growth in
assets held by saving cooperatives and the interconnectedness among saving cooperatives,
adjustments in the real estate sector after the implementation of the revised loan-to-value ratio
(LTV) measure, and leverage by large corporates that could underprice risks. In the following period,
there remained a need to address financial stability risks through a combination of tools, including
the appropriate policy rate as well as microprudential and macroprudential measures which would
need to place greater emphasis on debt serviceability of borrowers.
Looking ahead, the Thai economy would expand at a slower pace due mainly to the
softening momentum of external demand. The Committee would continue to monitor
developments of economic growth, inflation, and financial stability, together with associated risks,
especially impacts of trade tensions, in deliberating appropriate monetary policy in the period
ahead.
Bank of Thailand
26 June 2019
For further information, please contact: Monetary Policy Strategy Division
Tel: +66 2283 6186, +66 2356 7872