Factors Affecting Small and Medium-sized Iron and Metal Industry (SMEs) Enterprises in Thailand

Abstract

The objective of this research is to study the factors affecting small and medium-sized steel and metal enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand. The study found that the domestic steel price Rebar and sheet prices are expected to be around 20,000 baht per tonne. In 2019-2021, rebar prices have contracted due to an expected large oversupply from China as a result of 1) US-China trade war. Resulting in an accelerated distribution of goods to third countries such as Thailand; and 2) the use of rebar in China began to decline due to the sluggish real estate sector. However, in 2022, rebar prices have a chance to expand as domestic demand accelerates from infrastructure investment. And real estate the price of hot-rolled coil continued to contract during 2020-2021 in line with world market prices due to high oversupply.
World steel production in 2021 expanded slightly in line with global steel demand direction. The major steel producing countries, such as China, are expanding their production capacity. With a tendency to invest in setting up a steel factory both in the country and India and the United States There are plans to produce more steel to feed the construction sector. and the manufacturing industry in their country on the demand for steel Domestically, it is expected to slightly improve in 2022 as a result of 1) the construction sector which is expected to expand highly from both infrastructure work; and real estate in potential areas such as the Eastern Special Economic Zone and along the electric train routes in Bangkok and its vicinity; and 2) related industrial sectors such as automobiles and electrical appliances tend to expand. From the market demand both in the country and abroad rebar price and steel in the country, steel prices contracted during 2020-2021 in line with world steel prices that will decline due to an increase in excess supply. However, prices are expected to expand slightly in the 4th quarter of 2022 as demand will increase in line with the growth of the construction sector. And real estate that is expected to have a large number of construction projects