BANGKOK, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Thailand recorded a current account surplus of $2.1 billion in December, after a deficit of $1.2 billion in the previous month, the central bank said on Wednesday.

Exports, a key driver of Thai growth, rose 3.0% in December from a year earlier, after November's 3.9% increase on the year, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) said in a statement.

Imports in December fell 1.7% year-on-year.

Private consumption rose 0.1% from November and private investment dropped 2.4%, the BOT said, noting economic activity would be supported in January by consumption and tourism.

"Thailand's economic growth slowed in December and the fourth quarter from the previous period as tourist expenditures and exports softened due to subdued global demand together with structural factors," it said in a statement

Southeast Asia's second-largest economy grew by 1.5% in the July-September quarter from a year earlier, the slowest pace this year and less than expected, on weak exports and government spending.

Central Bank Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput told Reuters last week that he expected a similar growth rate for the fourth quarter of 2023, with the full-year expansion seen below a previous forecast of 2.4%.

He also said 2024 economic growth could be below 3%, less than earlier forecast, but Southeast Asia's second-largest economy was not in crisis as portrayed by the government.

The finance ministry last weel slashed its 2023 economic growth forecast to 1.8% from 2.7% seen earlier. It also expected growth in 2024 to slow sharply to 2.8% from a previous forecast of 3.2%.

The government has repeatedly said the economy is in crisis and needs a big boost from its $14 billion digital handout scheme.

Srettha - a real estate mogul and political newcomer - has also urged the central bank to cut the policy interest rate, which is at a decade-high of 2.50%, to help sluggish growth and suffering people and businesses. (Reporting by Orathai Sriring, Kitiphong Thaichareon; Editing by Martin Petty)