Thailand received $43.6 billion in foreign and domestic investment applications across 1,299 projects in the first half of 2026, a 37 percent increase year-on-year, with digital infrastructure and AI data centers accounting for the bulk of inflows.
In a statement on Thursday, the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) said The digital sector led all categories with $33 billion in investment applications.
Electrical appliances and electronics followed at $3.56 billion across 179 projects, agriculture and food processing at $1.82 billion across 131 projects, logistics and high-value services at $1.19 billion across 170 projects, and automotive sector at $759.2 million across 122 projects.
Other sectors included mining, metals and materials at $603.5 million across 128 projects, chemicals and petrochemicals at $489.1 million across 110 projects, and machinery-automation-robotics at $387.4 million across 82 projects.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) applications drove most of the growth, rising 80 percent year-on-year to $40.5 billion across 877 projects. Singapore was the top source of FDI at $33.2 billion across 158 projects. The United Kingdom followed at $1.40 billion across 11 projects, China at $1.35 billion across 321 projects, Taiwan at $1.12 billion across 47 projects, and Japan at $970.1 million across 123 projects.
Geographically, Thailand’s Central region attracted the largest share at $26.7 billion across 513 projects, followed by the Eastern region at $14.7 billion. The Northern region recorded investment value growth of 93 percent year-on-year, led by energy and utilities, agriculture and food processing, and medical projects.
The energy and utilities sector recorded 221 projects worth $1.17 billion, of which 198 were clean energy initiatives including solar, wind, biomass, and biogas power plants valued at $779.7 million. Under the BOI’s Smart and Sustainable Industry initiative, 132 applications valued at $507.6 million were submitted to upgrade machinery and integrate automation and robotics into production.
The BOI approved promotion applications for 1,300 projects valued at $38.7 billion in the first half of 2026. The approved projects are expected to generate more than 82,000 jobs, consume approximately $11.4 billion in domestic raw materials annually — accounting for 42 percent of total raw material use — and boost export capacity by more than $36.8 billion per year.
Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of the Thailand BOI, said the investment growth reflected strong investor confidence in Thailand as a base for future industries despite global headwinds including geopolitical tensions, energy price volatility, and supply chain restructuring.
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