Thailand's manufacturing production index (MPI) in January dropped by a slightly less-than-expected 4.35% from a year earlier as a global slowdown hurt exports, the industry ministry said on Tuesday.

The figure compared with a forecast fall of 5% in factory output for January in a Reuters poll, and came after December's revised 8.45% year-on-year declined. (Reporting by Orathai Sriring and Satawasin Staporncharnchai Editing by Ed Davies)