Bangkok's shopping centre boom: Central Pattana reports 18% profit growth

Bangkok's shopping centre industry is experiencing significant growth, with Central Pattana (CPN) reporting an 18% increase in net profit despite a depressed market. CPN operates over 40 shopping complexes nationwide, and new developments are reshaping the city. Central Park Bangkok opened in September 2025 near Lumpini Park, a mixed-use collaboration with Dusit Hotels & Resorts. A new project, Central Central, is expected to begin in 2027 in Siam Square, a joint venture with Japan's Mitsubishi Estate. The Mall Group plans to open Bangkok Mall in 2028, which will dwarf Central World and extend eastward towards Suvarnabhumi Airport. New operators like MQDC are entering the market: Cloud 11 opened with a music festival, and Happitat, a 'destination dedicated to happiness', will open in August. However, success requires retail expertise and long-term brand relationships, as shown by the difficulties faced by One Bangkok, a mixed-use project backed by a beer conglomerate. CPN is opening another mall at the end of the year near its first built in the early 1980s.