Thailand First-Half Investment Applications Hit USD 32.5 billion on Soaring Data Center Sector, Significant Pledges in E&E and Infrastructure, BOI Says

BANGKOK,July 24, 2025/PRNewswire/ -- TheThailandBoard of Investment today announced that applications for investment promotion in the first half of 2025 increased by 139% from the year earlier period to a record 1.06 trillion baht (ca.USD 32.5 billion) led by a 20-fold rise to522.6 billion bahtin digital sector pledges, as well as continued investment in the electrical and electronic appliance (E&E) sector, and rail infrastructure.

The data center business alone attracted a combined investment value of521.2 billion bahtfrom 28 projects, as foreign and local tech companies continued to address the soaring demand for cloud services from hyperscalers. Over the past several months, global cloud service companies (hyperscalers) like Amazon Web Services and Google, as well as platforms such as TikTok, have announced plans to expand inThailandand the region.  

In other segments of the digital sector, cloud services saw two applications worth a combined investment of671 million baht, while 59 applications were filed for software and digital platform development projects, representing669 million bahtin combined investment.

"The applications during the past six months confirm that our strategy to focus on high-tech and high-value sectors is paying off,"said Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of the BOI."The overall increase in both number of projects and investment value reflects investors'confidence inThailand'spotential and good economic fundamentals. I believe this will allow for full year 2025 applications to exceed last year's performance."

The E&E sector came in second amongst target sectors, attracting125.79 billion bahtworth of applications, down 9% from the year earlierperiod, while the number of  projects was up 51% to 268, including investments in the manufacturing of battery cells and high-density batteries, supercapacitors, smart electrical appliances, smart electronics, and printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) using surface mount technology.

The automotive and parts sector accounted for 172 applications, up 27%, representing combined investments of45.2 billion baht, up 14%. The agriculture and food processing sector accounted for 184 applications, up 25%, for a combined investment value of30.79 billion baht, up 1%. Petrochemicals and chemicals came in fifth with 161 applications, up 63%, worth a combined26.73 billion baht, up 16%.

The renewable energy sector saw a total of 191 applications in the first half, representing a combined42.24 billion bahtof investment, an increase of 4% from a year earlier.

Applications during the period also included Bangkok Expressway and Metro PCL's109.2 billion bahtinvestment in the construction of the Orange Line which will connectBangkok'swestern and eastern suburbs, over a distance of 35.9 kilometers, facilitating travel in the city.

In the first half of 2025, there were a total of 1,880 applications for investment promotion, an increase of 38% from the same period of last year. In the first half of 2024, some 1,363 applications were filed, with an adjusted investment value of443.66 billion baht, in which the digital sector accounted for only25.1 billion baht.

The first half performance comes after a record 2024, during whichThailand'stotal applications for investment promotion soared 35% in value to a 10-year high of1.14 trillion baht, as the digital sector topped for the first time the sectoral rankings with a combined243.3 billion bahtin pledged investment, ahead of the E&E sector's231.7 billion baht.

FDI Projects Account for 70% of Applications in First Half 2025

From January toJune 2025, there was a total of 1,369 foreign direct investment (FDI) applications, an increase of 59% from the year earlier period, which together represented a combined737.57 billion bahtin investment, up 132%, and representing as much as 70% of the total value of applications during the period.

Singaporewas the largest source of FDI applications in terms of value, mainly due to projects in digital and E&E sectors, with a combined worth of246.98 billion baht, accounting for 33% of all FDI pledges. The 248 applications bySingapore-based companies also topped the rankings in the digital sector, with a combined investment value of186.74 billion bahtin that industry.

Hong Kongfollowed with218.64 billion bahtworth of projects, accounting for 30% of FDI pledges. The 147 applications byHong Kong-based entities were also mainly in the digital and E&E sectors.

Chinaranked third with102.26 billion bahtinvestment worth of applications, accounting for 14% of FDI pledges, from a total of 587 projects. Most projects are in the E&E sector and the petrochemical and chemical industry.

TheUnited Kingdomcame next with 16 applications worth a combined investment value of93.73 billion baht, a 25-fold increase from the 3.68 billion filed during the year earlier period, mostly due to projects in the digital sector and the automotive and parts industry.

Japancompleted the top 5 sources of FDI applications during the first half with a combined value of49.82 billion bahtfrom 186 projects, mostly in the automotive and parts industry and the E&E sector.

For more information, please contact:

ThailandBoard of Investment

Tel. +66 (0) 2553 8111

Website:www.boi.go.th

YouTube: Think Asia, Invest Thailand

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SOURCEThailandBoard of Investment (BOI)