Archive

Excise tax on imported EVs still under review, not going to cabinet next week Prachachat · 1h ago

Finance Minister Ekniti says the excise tax plan that would charge higher rates on imported EVs than locally made cars is still being studied and will not go to the 26 Oct cabinet meeting. The only item going forward is an energy transition loan of up to 100,000 million baht: about 50,000 million for 1 million rooftop solar installations (50,000 baht subsidy per household, rooftop or ground-mounted), and up to 50,000 million for grid upgrades and smart meters that will let solar households sell power back. If you sell or import EVs, or plan solar or electrical work, keep current plans until the tax details are published; the solar subsidy is the part to track.

Houthi strikes on Saudi oil and airports raise Gulf supply risk for Thai importers Prachachat · 1h ago

Houthi rebels backed by Iran say they will keep attacking Saudi energy infrastructure and airports. Strikes hit Saudi Aramco's Riyadh headquarters (13 Oct), a Dammam airport and a Shaybah oil site. Several oil majors pulled executives from the World Petroleum Congress, and Saudi Arabia postponed its FII investment conference to 2027. For a Thai SME, the practical effect is a higher risk of oil and fuel price swings, freight and shipping disruption through the Gulf, and some caution on Gulf trade and travel. Review fuel and shipping cost assumptions and keep an eye on diesel prices.

Hat Yai EV bus route starts free rides until 12 November, fares of 15 baht per trip from 13 November Prachachat · 2h ago

Songkhla Provincial Administrative Organization has launched an electric bus route (Category 1, Line 3) looping around central Hat Yai, running 07:00-19:00 daily. Rides are free until 12 November 2026; from 13 November the fare is 15 baht per trip (30 baht return), versus up to 60 baht per person previously cited for school trips. For Hat Yai shops and service businesses, this means easier, cheaper access for customers and staff along the route, including near Central Hat Yai, Big C and the hospitals. Plan staff commuting and delivery timing around the new stops if relevant.

Krungthai says bad loans are running below target and it will keep helping vulnerable borrowers, SMEs and property firms included Prachachat · 2h ago

Krungthai's 9-month results beat market expectations, with NPLs below its target. The bank says it is keeping its cautious strategy and will not change course. It names SMEs and property developers as the vulnerable groups it is watching most closely. Many property firms have cut investment, but some are still stuck with high unsold stock. For an SME owner, this means lending is still available at a moderate pace, with the bank favouring targeted support and restructuring over selling bad debts. If you are a borrower under pressure, approach your bank early about relief measures rather than waiting. Interest income is falling, so expect the bank to stay selective on new lending.

Thai firms are adopting AI faster than they govern it, and SMEs are the weakest link The Story Thailand · 2h ago

A 2026 readiness survey (about 500 respondents, per NECTEC's former director Dr. Chai Wutiwiwatchai) found AI use among organisations rose from about 17% to 53%, while 73% have not adopted AI ethics principles and 46% have not assessed AI risk. Dr. Chai said smaller firms adopting tools without preparing on law, staff, and infrastructure are pulling readiness down. Risks he flagged: AI errors from poor training data, misuse such as voice and video impersonation fraud, and copyright issues. For agentic AI that acts on instructions, define what the tool may do and where human approval is needed. ETDA publishes free legal and ethics guidance for organisations starting AI governance.

State Railway sues CP consortium for 13.3 billion baht over stalled airport rail deal Bangkok Post · 2h ago

The State Railway of Thailand has sued Asia Era One, the CP-led consortium, in the Central Administrative Court for 13.3 billion baht, including 2.66 billion baht interest on an unpaid 10.67 billion baht co-investment fee due by Oct 2021. It also demanded 1 billion baht each from Bangkok Bank and SCB under their guarantees. The 220km three-airport high-speed rail has stalled for years, with start now projected for 2031-32. For a small business, there is no direct action: the project is not expected to break ground soon, so plan around the Eastern Economic Corridor as a long-term, not near-term, driver.

Thai industry body pushes clean-energy shift and a 5-minute nationwide lights-off as fuel costs climb Prachachat · 2h ago

The Federation of Thai Industries (ส.อ.ท.) says energy prices are rising and it plans to propose a nationwide 5-minute lights-off to save power. Energy Minister Ekkarat outlined PDP2026, which targets about 28,000 MW of solar, opens routes for direct PPAs, SMRs and battery storage, and sets a 30% clean-energy share for new data centres. Nothing here changes your costs or obligations yet. Watch for the PDP2026 final rules and any direct PPA access terms, which could matter for SMEs planning on-site solar or energy-saving measures.

Growing and selling common holy basil stays legal under the new Plant Variety Protection rules Prachachat · 3h ago

The Ministry of Agriculture says the registered holy basil variety "Kaew Chuli 01-04" only protects that new registered variety. Ordinary or native holy basil can still be grown, harvested, sold as leaves, or used in cooked food without liability. Selling seeds, seedlings or cuttings of the protected variety needs permission from the rights holder. The Plant Variety Protection Act (B.E. 2542) is being revised, and the public can submit comments. Questions go to the Plant Variety Protection group, Department of Agriculture, tel. 0-2940-7214.

Oil fund still about 100,000 million baht in deficit, government weighs new refining-margin levy and other fund cash to hold diesel and fuel prices down The Standard Wealth · 3h ago

Energy Minister Ekanat says the fuel fund is roughly 100,000 million baht negative. Options under study: a new refining-margin levy of about 1,200 million baht, using unspent cash from the energy conservation fund, and asking the Finance Ministry to channel dividends from state-linked oil companies to relief. No amounts or timing are set yet. Excise cuts remain a last resort; a targeted cut on E20 and B20 blends is being discussed. B20 and E20 currently sell about 6 baht/litre cheaper than B7 and E10. For a fleet, delivery or farm business, plan fuel costs on the assumption that current prices stay high for now, and watch for a blend-related price gap.

Cabinet to weigh rooftop solar subsidy for households next week, with Government Savings Bank and GHB loans Prachachat · 3h ago

Deputy PM and Finance Minister Ekniti says a energy-transition project to support households installing rooftop solar will be proposed at next week's Cabinet meeting. Households would move from being electricity users to electricity sellers. If households need funding for installation, Government Savings Bank and the Government Housing Bank would provide support. The article gives no subsidy size, eligibility or start date, so treat this as a pending policy. For SMEs, it signals possible demand for solar installers and a financing channel to watch once the details are published.

Grab EV drivers get 6 baht/kWh charging at a new Bangkok East station until 31 December The Story Thailand · 3h ago

SHARGE, Grab and Bangkok Oil (PTT-linked fuel station brand, Kiang Kaew branch) opened the first Grab EV charging station near Suvarnabhumi Airport: 12 DC fast chargers, 720 kW total, claimed to fill a car in about 20 minutes. Grab EV drivers can get a code in the Grab Driver Benefit section and redeem it in the ReverSharger app for 6 baht/kWh, 24 hours a day, until 31 December 2026. For Thai SMEs running EV fleets or driving for ride-hailing, this is a near-term cost cut on charging; the rest of the rollout (Don Mueang and other sites) is not yet dated.

PHP security flaw: update your websites now or risk a personal data leak Bangkok Post · 3h ago

Thailand's PDPC warned that serious PHP vulnerabilities could let attackers access systems and expose personal data. The PHP Foundation has released a fix. If your website, online shop, booking or customer system runs on PHP, ask your developer or hosting provider today whether it is on a patched version and install the update. Ask them to add firewall or cloud protection and check logs for unusual access. If you suspect customer data was accessed, contact the PDPC breach procedure. No confirmed breach in Thailand has been reported yet.

State railway sues Asia Era One and guarantor banks for 13.3 billion baht over Airport Rail Link rights fee Prachachat · 4h ago

The State Railway of Thailand filed suit on 21 October (2026) in the Central Administrative Court against Asia Era One, two guarantor banks (Bangkok Bank and SCB, 1 billion baht each) and five guarantors of the Three-Airport high-speed rail project. It seeks 13.34 billion baht, the unpaid rights fee of 10.67 billion baht plus default interest, which was due in October 2021. The Airport Rail Link keeps running as normal. For a small business this is a large-project dispute with no direct effect on your costs, fares or operations.

Farmers flood-hit get 3,000 baht per household more, pending cabinet approval Prachachat · 4h ago

The Agriculture Ministry has approved in principle an extra 3,000 baht per household for flood-hit farmers for the new planting cycle, covering registered and unregistered farmers. About 52,832 farmers in crops, fisheries and livestock are affected, with a budget of roughly 1.58 billion baht. The request still needs cabinet approval. Farmers and agri-linked suppliers should check registration, since debt-relief measures (ธ.ก.ส. debt deferral and recovery loans) are also being coordinated. A PM2.5 burning ban for farm areas runs November 2026 to May 2027.

PM orders police to monitor France unrest and customs to check exports for drugs Prachachat · 4h ago

The PM told the national police chief to watch for unrest similar to the France protests and asked Customs to tighten checks on exports after cases of drug smuggling via cargo. He said the cannabis rules are unchanged: CBD products stay legal with FDA approval, but flower and buds remain controlled narcotics. Shops selling buds or joints risk licence revocation. A draft amendment to raise penalties for cannabis and drug possession was also tabled in parliament. For Thai businesses in cannabis or CBD, licence renewals will get stricter checks, and cargo exporters may see more inspections.

NBTC board deadlock leaves approvals and fines in limbo, so check any pending telecom or broadcast licence Prachachat · 5h ago

The NBTC secretary-general says the regulator's board has split into two groups after a dispute over the chairman's eligibility. Meetings have stalled for over two months, and the office is unsure which resolutions are legally valid. One board resolution reportedly ordered fines of 2–3 million baht a day against operators, but the office has not acted on it because of legal risk. If your business holds or is waiting on a telecom, broadcast or online-service licence, or expects a fine or refund from the regulator, expect delays and ask for written confirmation of status.

Commerce Ministry puts 17 sensitive goods under daily price watch after floods and diesel costs Prachachat · 5h ago

From October 2026 the Department of Internal Trade tracks 17 sensitive items daily, including diesel, plastic pellets, steel bars and sheets, cooking oil, sugar, animal feed, fertiliser, eggs, chicken, pork and fresh milk. Six more items are checked twice a week and 196 every 15 days. If you buy or sell these inputs, expect prices to move quickly and watch your supplier costs. Anyone caught hoarding or manipulating prices faces up to 7 years in prison or a fine of up to 140,000 baht. Eggs are short by about 2 million a day in Prachinburi after floods, and exporters have been asked to slow shipments. Diesel accounts for about 40% of transport costs, so review delivery and freight pricing.

Thai exporters see high global rates squeezing foreign buyers in 2027, survey finds Prachachat · 6h ago

Thai Chamber of Commerce forecasts exports up 17.8% in 2026 and about 7.4% in 2027, led by AI and data-center electronics and the US market. A survey of 113 chamber members found 73.5% expect high global interest rates and fiscal tightening to hit foreign customers' purchasing power, and 24.8% name US tax measures as the biggest 2027 export risk. Sector views differ: industry and services worry most about US trade, agriculture about weather and food prices. If you export, review customer concentration and US tariff exposure in your planning; the benefit of AI demand mostly reaches electronics suppliers.

UTCC forecasts Thai exports to slow to 7.4% in 2027, with a wide 0.8-11.1% range hinging on US tariffs and AI demand Prachachat · 6h ago

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce expects Thai exports to grow 17.8% in 2026 to US$400.8bn, then slow to 7.4% in 2027 (US$430.5bn), with a scenario range of 0.8-11.1%. Growth is concentrated in the US (24.3% of exports) and electronics. Risks: US tariffs (ART, Section 301), AI demand, and the Strait of Hormuz. For a Thai SME, the practical read is to avoid over-reliance on US buyers or electronics supply chains, and to plan 2027 sales conservatively, with the low case near flat growth.

Oil fund in the red by about 100 billion baht: the 4-baht pump price cut ends 31 October, and a new refining-margin levy of 1.2 billion baht is coming Prachachat · 7h ago

The energy minister says the oil fund is about 100 billion baht negative. The 4-baht-per-litre pump price cut ends 31 October, and a new refining-margin levy of about 1.2 billion baht is planned, to continue until oil prices ease. Options under study include tapping the unused Energy Conservation Fund and asking the Finance Ministry to use dividends from state-linked oil companies. Excise tax cuts are the last resort and not yet started. Budget for pump prices rising from 1 November, and keep an eye on the E20 and B20 price gap (about 6 baht per litre cheaper than B7/E10) if your fleet or farm machinery uses them. No decision yet on amounts or timing.