# Japanese investment applications surge by 146% in 2025, hitting 119 billion baht, reports BOI

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/japan/282833-japanese-investment-applications-surge-by-146-in-2025-hitting-119-billion-baht-reports-boi
- Published: 2026-02-04T08:24:00+07:00
- Author: Fujiko Takahashi

Japanese investment applications in Thailand saw a significant surge of 146% in 
2025, reaching 119 billion baht, signalling growing optimism among Japanese businesses
for Thailand’s economic rebound in the first half of 2026.

This positive outlook is supported by a JETRO Bangkok survey, which found that Japanese
companies expect improved economic conditions compared to the previous six quarters,
attributing this to a recovery in production and consumption and new business opportunities
across various sectors. The Board of Investment (BOI) highlights Thailand’s continued
importance as a long-term investment base for Japanese firms, with investments increasingly
shifting towards high-tech and sustainable industries.

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Key information from the JETRO survey and BOI data includes:

**Japanese Investment in 2025:**

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 * Total Investment Value: Exceeded 119 billion baht, a 146% increase from 2024.
 * Number of Projects: 311, up 17% year-on-year.
 * Major Driving Sectors:
    - **Automotive and Parts:** 28.332 billion baht (+57%), including expansion 
      into Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs).
    - **Electronics and Electrical Appliances:** 24.318 billion baht (+121%), focusing
      on advanced components for EVs and high-precision electronics.
    - **Digital:** Rose sharply to over 7.6 billion baht (from 42 million baht in
      2024), driven by large data-centre projects supporting the digital economy
      and AI.
 * Other Notable Investments: Aircraft parts, high-grade steel, food and beverages,
   renewable energy, and joint ventures for industrial estate development.

**Japanese Business Sentiment (JETRO Survey conducted Nov-Dec 2025 among 520+ firms):**

 * **Optimistic Outlook for H1 2026:** Attributed to recovery in production and 
   consumption, alongside new business opportunities.
 * **Sectors Expected to Improve:** Automotive, electronics, chemicals, food, trading,
   and financial services.
 * **Future Investment Plans:**
    - 23% plan to increase investment in Thailand in 2026.
    - 35% expect exports to rise.
    - 26% are considering establishing a regional office in Thailand.

**Response to External Risks:**

 * **US Reciprocal Tariffs:** 44% of firms were unaffected, while 26% reported or
   anticipated impacts. Most (54%) planned to maintain existing strategies, with
   others considering cost pass-through, market expansion, or operational efficiency
   improvements.
 * **Thai-Cambodian Border Checkpoint Closures:** Over 67% reported no significant
   impact, though 25% faced logistics and production disruptions, leading to shifts
   to sea freight or rerouting via Laos and Vietnam.

**Areas for Improvement in Thailand’s Investment Climate (as desired by investors):**

 * Stimulating domestic consumption.
 * Addressing household debt.
 * Improving tax audit and refund efficiency.
 * Upgrading transport infrastructure.
 * Broader economic stimulus and infrastructure investment to strengthen long-term
   competitiveness.

Overall, Japanese investors maintain confidence in Thailand as a key production 
base in ASEAN, with a strategic shift towards new technologies such as hybrids, 
semiconductors, PCBs, aircraft parts, biotech products, data centres, and renewable
energy, reinforcing Thailand’s role in global supply chains.