Our May update highlights Thailand, where investment activity has reached record levels. The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) reports a historic surge in applications through 2025 and early 2026. During this period, total investment exceeded $50 billion, with $25 billion directed to the manufacturing sector.
1. NMB-Minebea Thai Co. Ltd. (Japan)
MinebeaMitsumi remains one of Thailand’s most significant long-term partners. The company has recently shifted its focus to high-tech components and smart electronics. In April, it announced and finalized a $221 million investment.
Expansion Focus: The company has prioritized investments in the production of optical and electro-optical devices, including transceivers for data centers and advanced lighting solutions.
Lopburi Operations: The Lopburi plant is a key site for the mechanical and electronic parts division. Minebea is benefiting from the BOI's Smart and Sustainable Industry measures, which incentivize upgrading production lines with AI and automation.
Procurement: High-speed cold headers, precision press machines, CNC lathes, and grinding and honing machines.
2. Fabrinet Company Ltd. (USA)
Fabrinet, a specialist in precision optical and electronic manufacturing, is a major contributor to the sector’s growth. In October 2025, the company announced a $144 million investment to expand its manufacturing capabilities.
Investment Scope: The company is participating in a group making significant investments in advanced electronics and AI infrastructure.
Key Products: The BOI promotion supports expanding production of optical transceivers and components for AI data center servers. This aligns with Thailand 4.0, the national strategy that focuses on innovation, automation, digital technology, and sustainability to boost sector competitiveness and attract investment.
Procurement: Clean-room systems, ultra-high-precision robotics, and automated inspection.
3. Denso (Thailand) Co. Ltd. (Japan)
Denso (Thailand) Co. Ltd. is playing a leading role in the BOI’s 2026 Smart and Sustainable Industry initiative. The company will invest $75 million in its Electrification and Mobility Division, which produces inverters, power control units, and thermal management systems. This is part of Denso’s global R&D and automation budget of over $4.1 billion for fiscal 2026, aimed at modernizing frontline manufacturing.
Strategic Shift: Denso is repositioning its Thai operations as a multipathway mobility hub, adapting its factories to produce EV components, power semiconductors, and ADAS sensors for the regional market. The company is also expanding into factory automation services, leveraging its expertise to offer integrated robotic and IoT solutions to other industrial sectors experiencing labor shortages.
Procurement: Servo press lines for electric motor production, robotic systems, laser welding systems, and automated inspection systems.
4. Panasonic Motor (Thailand) Co. Ltd. (Japan)
Panasonic Motor (Thailand) Co. Ltd. is planning a $135 million investment in 2026 as part of a broader corporate realignment. The company is modifying its activities in Thailand to center on advanced electronics and energy solutions.
Strategic Shift: Panasonic is transitioning from the production of basic appliance motors to high-efficiency precision motors and power-electronic components. Areas of focus include high-torque EV motors for auxiliary systems and cooling fans, factory automation servo motors and actuators, and components for medical equipment.
Procurement: High-speed lamination presses, automated CNC winding machines, precision die casting systems, balancing and testing systems, and clean-room-ready robotics.
5. Bangkok Sheet Metal Public Co. Ltd. (Thailand)
Bangkok Sheet Metal, a locally listed company, has actively used BOI incentives to transition from traditional metalworking to complex, high-value manufacturing. In January 2026, its $21 million investment received a special designation as a Smart and Sustainable Industry investment.
Strategic Shift: The company is emphasizing automation and robotics in sheet metal fabrication, consistent with the BOI's promotion of Industry 4.0 adoption among Thai manufacturers.
Market Position: Recent financial filings show a focus on B2B industrial components, including communication racks and metal parts for automotive and electrical industries. In fiscal year 2025, the company reported a 12% increase in revenue and a 10% increase in net profit, driven by greater operational efficiency and new product lines. The company's performance reflects the 86% growth in investment by Thai-owned firms reported by the BOI for 2025.
Procurement: CNC laser cutting machines, automated robotic bending cells, robotic welding systems, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), and IoT and ERP software systems.
6. Perfetto Industries Co. Ltd. (Thailand)
Founded in 2025, this company focuses on manufacturing and exporting automotive parts and accessories for both EV and ICE markets. The projected investment total is $20 million.
Manufacturing Designation: The company aims to procure energy-efficient, environmentally friendly machinery, thereby qualifying it for the Green Investment category, which the BOI prioritized for 2026. Green Investments must typically reduce energy use, lower emissions, or increase the use of renewables, per BOI criteria.
Procurement: Machine tools, workholding, and metal forming presses.
7. Ronda (Thailand) Co. Ltd. (Thailand)
Ronda has operated in Thailand since 1989, producing components for Swiss watch movements, microcomponents, and integrated circuits printed onto watch modules. In the first quarter of 2026, the company announced a $40 million investment to modernize equipment and enhance optimization.
Procurement: Swiss-type CNC lathes, Wire EDM machines, high-speed stamping presses, automated optical inspection, and clean-room systems with automation.
For more information, please contact Mike Lauer at mlauer@AMTonline.org, and to learn how to take advantage of these opportunities, click here.
