BANGKOK, April 9 — Thailand's economy is expected to grow 4.1 per cent this year, up from 3.6 per cent predicted last August, as the recovery is broadening, the World Bank said today.

While rapid export growth continues to fuelling South-east Asia's second-largest economy, an increase in capacity utilisation and acceleration in capital goods imports suggest a nascent domestic demand recovery, the World Bank said in a statement.

"With economic growth exceeding 4 per cent this year, for the first time since 2012, Thailand has the potential, with intensifying structural reforms, to raise productivity and grow even faster over the medium term,” Ulrich Zachau, World Bank Director for Thailand, Malaysia and Regional Partnerships, said in the statement.

Thailand's exports are expected to rise 6 per cent this year, but a trade war is a risk, World Bank economist Kiatipong Ariyapruchya told a briefing.

But a trade dispute between the United States and China has yet to have a big impact on Thai shipments, which should be underpinned by demand from other markets, while signs of domestic demand recovery will also help, he said.

Economic growth in January-March is expected to have performed better than the previous quarter, he said.

Last month, Thailand's central bank raised its 2018 economic growth forecast to 4.1 per cent from 3.9 per cent, and projected a 7 per cent gain in exports, instead of 4 per cent.

Last year, the economy expanded 3.9 per cent, the fastest pace in five years, while exports rose nearly 10 per cent. — Reuters