ASEAN’s largest industrial sourcing exhibition, SUBCON Thailand, concluded its 20th edition with an estimated USD 705.5 million (around 23 billion baht) in parts trade, highlighting the growing global shift toward Southeast Asia for manufacturing partnerships and supplier diversification. Held in Bangkok from May 13–16, the event attracted more than 50,000 participants and facilitated over 9,600 business matching sessions. SUBCON Thailand is jointly organized by the Thailand Board of Investment, the Thai Subcontracting Promotion Association, and Informa Markets Thailand.
“SUBCON Thailand is more than ASEAN’s largest industrial trade exhibition. It serves as a strategic platform for connecting Thai businesses with global supply chains at a time when major industrial restructuring is reshaping the global economy,” said Narit Therdsteerasukdi. “Thai entrepreneurs will play a vital role in driving the country’s future economy. We aim to further develop SUBCON into a platform that enhances their capabilities and strengthens Thailand’s position in global industrial supply chains across sectors such as AI, semiconductors, next-generation vehicles, and automation.”
Companies said SUBCON Thailand let them source across electric vehicles, semiconductors and advanced electronics, automation and robotics, medical devices, and aerospace — finding buyers, suppliers, and industrial partners across all of them — in a single venue.
“SUBCON Thailand serves as a key platform where automotive and electronics companies connect and explore business opportunities. Through business matching sessions, good potential has been identified to deepen collaboration with Thai entrepreneurs and enhance local industry partnerships,” said Mr. Paulino Mendoza, Team Lead Global Processing Manager, BMW (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
“SUBCON Thailand is where Thai manufacturers prove their quality to the world. Business Matching connected us with buyers and partners we would not have found elsewhere. This is how Thai companies build the confidence to compete internationally,” said Ms. Waranchalee Suwanpimolkul, Assistant Managing Director, S.K. Polymer Co., Ltd.
Many BOI-network companies left with concrete results — procurement agreements, follow-up negotiations, and technology partnerships. Business Matching drew the highest satisfaction scores of any activity at the show, reflecting how central buyer-supplier connectivity is to the event’s appeal. The results point to broader confidence: companies at the show said Thai manufacturers are internationally competitive on quality and ready to integrate into global supply chains.
Looking ahead, the BOI plans to widen SUBCON’s scope — targeting AI, advanced electronics, modern vehicles, and logistics. The BOI will also expand Business Matching to reach a broader set of industries and build closer ties between Thai companies and overseas investors.
“SUBCON Thailand is a mechanism the BOI uses to put Thai entrepreneurs at the center of global supply chains — and to keep them there. The world is going through the biggest industrial shift in a generation. Every country is racing to build a stronger base for its own manufacturers. Thai entrepreneurs will be the backbone of Thailand’s economy, and we intend to make SUBCON the platform that gets them there — in AI, semiconductors, modern vehicles, and automation,” Mr. Narit said.
