Foreign Investment in Thailand Surges 68% in First Half
Foreign investment in Thailand surged 68% in the first half of 2025, reaching 187.6 billion baht across 640 approved enterprises, with China, the U.S., and Japan leading the inflow.
Thailand's Commerce Ministry reported a surge in foreign investment during June 2025 and the first half of the year. In June alone, 112 foreign businesses were approved to operate in Thailand under the Foreign Business Operations Act, bringing investments worth 34.056 billion baht, with the majority coming from China, the United States, and Japan.
For the first half of 2025 (January–June), 640 foreign enterprises received approval to operate in Thailand, an increase of 138 cases or 27% compared to 502 cases in the same period of 2024. The total investment value reached 187.614 billion baht, up 76.108 billion baht or 68% from 111.506 billion baht in the first half of 2024.
The top five investing countries were: 1) China with 110 businesses (17% of foreign enterprises) investing 35.479 billion baht; 2) the United States with 107 businesses (17%) investing 6.043 billion baht; 3) Japan with 87 businesses (14%) investing 44.662 billion baht; 4) Singapore with 83 businesses (13%) investing 37.867 billion baht; and 5) Hong Kong with 59 businesses (9%) investing 13.088 billion baht. Other countries accounted for 194 businesses (30%) with investments of 50.475 billion baht.
Investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) during the first half of 2025 reached 199 projects, representing 31% of all foreign investors in Thailand and an increase of 41 projects or 26% from 158 projects in the same period of 2024. The EEC investment value totaled 83.779 billion baht, accounting for 45% of all foreign investment, with Chinese investors leading at 69 projects worth 28.983 billion baht, followed by Japan with 28 projects worth 22.386 billion baht, Singapore with 22 projects worth 10.1 billion baht, and other countries with 80 projects worth 22.31 billion baht.
