Thai Growth Seen Halved if Mideast Conflict Lasts Three Months

A triple hit from weaker tourism, softer exports and higher energy prices threatens to drag Thailand’s growth even lower this year.

One of the country’s leading private forecasters, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, estimates that gross domestic product growth could be cut roughly in half from its earlier 2% projection, if tensions in the Middle East persist for three months. Last year, the Thai economy grew 2.4%.