A new chapter for Thailand’s textile supply chain after COVID-19: how can government policy more effectively support the sustainable development of textile industry?
Abstract The textile industry in Thailand has historically played a central role in employment generation and industrial growth. However, recent structural shifts have raised concerns about the sustainability and resilience of its supply chains. Although strong inter-sectoral linkages are critical t...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Discover Sustainability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01567-1 |
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| Summary: | Abstract The textile industry in Thailand has historically played a central role in employment generation and industrial growth. However, recent structural shifts have raised concerns about the sustainability and resilience of its supply chains. Although strong inter-sectoral linkages are critical to ensuring inclusive growth, research on the structure of the textile supply chain and its broader development implications remains limited. Here, we address this knowledge gap by analyzing changes in output and income multipliers calculated from Input-Output table across the textile industry and its related sectors between 2015 and 2021. Based on national input-output data and multiplier analysis, the study finds a widespread decline in both backward and forward linkages, particularly in key supplier sectors such as mining, public utilities, and chemical industries. The findings indicate that the textile industry is undergoing a process of shallow industrialization, where production persists without broad-based economic benefits or income generation. This transformation has contributed to reduced household income and weakened supply chain resilience. Consequently, we propose a set of actionable policy implications—emphasizing both direct development of production and consumption patterns within the textile industry and indirect development strategies for supporting textile-related sectors. It in particular highlights the need for more dynamic, inclusive, and disaggregated approaches to future research. This article contributes to a timely and critical discussion on the restructuring of Thailand’s textile industry and offers practical policy directions to support its transition toward a more resilient and sustainable industrial ecosystem. |
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| ISSN: | 2662-9984 |