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Seven Thai airlines offer free 10kg fruit check-in on domestic flights until August next year Bangkok Post · Sep 2, 2026

Seven Thai airlines, including Thai Airways, AirAsia and Nok Air, will check one 10kg fresh-fruit box per passenger free on domestic flights, running until 31 August of next year. The scheme starts at 20 regional airports, with farmer retail spaces at airports. Fruit sellers in the north, northeast and south can use it to reach buyers, and tourism operators can point visitors to it. Only sealed, fresh, moisture-free fruit in the official airport boxes qualifies.

Diesel up 0.75 baht and benzine/gasohol up 0.60 baht a litre from 2 September, so budget higher fuel costs now Prachachat · Sep 2, 2026

The Oil Fund committee (กบน.) approved retail increases effective 2 September 2026 at 05.00: diesel +0.75 baht/litre (B7 now 39.14 baht) and benzine/gasohol +0.60 baht/litre (Gasohol 95 now 38.29 baht). The rise follows Singapore diesel reaching about US$164/bbl on 1 September amid US-Iran tensions, and the Oil Fund is paying about 357 million baht a day in subsidies. Premium grades were unchanged at major stations. Transport and delivery businesses should update fuel cost assumptions and quotes now, and expect pressure on freight and input prices to follow.

Free 10 kg fruit cargo on 7 airlines from 1 Sep 2569 - a new outlet for Thai fruit growers Prachachat · Sep 2, 2026

From 1 September 2569 to 31 August 2570, seven airlines (Thai Airways, AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air, Thai Vietjet, Easy Air Line) will carry fruit in the hold free for up to 10 kg per passenger at 20 regional airports. Commerce Ministry boxes (100,000 free, 10 kg each) are available at the airport service points, and growers can sell temporarily at 20 listed airports. Fruit must be fresh, dry, sealed in the ministry box; durian and strong-smelling fruit are banned. Mangosteen prices are falling because of weaker Chinese demand and flooding on the Boten-Mohan route, which carries about 65% of Thai mangosteen shipments to China. Growers and fruit sellers near these airports should consider the sales channel; others can ignore it.

SEC's Travel Rule takes effect 27 Feb 2027: crypto transfers over 30,000 baht need extra recipient details Prachachat · Sep 2, 2026

From 27 Feb 2027 (2570 BE), SEC-licensed crypto platforms must collect and check sender and recipient details on every digital-asset transfer and keep records for at least 5 years. Transfers up to 30,000 baht need the recipient's name; above that, you also need the recipient's province or city, country, and company registration number if the recipient is a company. Transfers from self-hosted wallets above 30,000 baht get extra ownership checks. Trading on platforms and baht deposits and withdrawals are not affected, but high-value or incomplete transfers may take longer. If your business receives or pays crypto, prepare recipient details in advance.

5,000 US Navy personnel land in Pattaya for five days, with about 100 million baht in spending expected Prachachat · Sep 2, 2026

About 5,000 US Navy personnel arrive at Pattaya from the USS Abraham Lincoln, docking at Laem Chabang C0 with a stay of 2–6 September. Spending is expected across hotels, restaurants, bars, transport and shops, estimated at around 100 million baht. Authorities have asked businesses not to raise prices or overcharge visitors, and police will add patrols, checkpoints and traffic control in Walking Street and nearby areas. Owners in Pattaya should plan extra staff and stock for the first week of September and keep prices and service steady.

Thailand's power mix must shift faster to hit 2035 emissions targets, and Thai SMEs should expect energy policy to tighten The Story Thailand · Sep 2, 2026

An academic at Thammasat's Sirindhorn International Institute says Thailand's NDC 3.0 requires the energy sector to cut emissions from 185 Mt (2019 base) to 117 Mt by 2035, and national net emissions from 287 Mt to 152 Mt. Power is expected to take a larger share of energy use, partly from EVs and data centres. Renewables are about 20% of electricity, but over half of that is hydro, and wind and solar are under 10%. Natural gas is still the main power fuel and cannot alone get Thailand to net zero. For an SME, this signals longer-term pressure on electricity mix and costs, and possibly carbon-related rules, but no immediate action is required from this article alone.

Thai IP office tightens online takedowns and will trace money behind infringing sellers Prachachat · Sep 2, 2026

The Department of Intellectual Property is working with rights holders and platforms on four measures: real-time IP data links to platforms, an "IP Verified" badge for licensed sellers, site blocking of pirated content and live streams, and financial-trail checks reaching suppliers and importers. Between January and July 2026 it made 140 arrests and seized 322,077 items worth about 104 million baht. For a Thai seller, the practical step is to confirm that your products, brands and licences are genuine and documented, since platforms may filter listings against IP records and the badge may help buyers pick verified shops. No deadline is attached yet.

China and US trade pressure on Thailand: academic flags risks to exports and Chinese import competition Prachachat · Sep 2, 2026

A Rangsit University economist's analysis (2 Sep 2026) says Thailand ran a 2025 trade deficit of USD 53.8bn with China (second in ASEAN) and a surplus of USD 75.0bn with the US (second after Vietnam). Chinese goods and investment are flowing into ASEAN faster, while the US is tightening tariffs, origin checks and anti-transshipment probes. Watch for stricter rules of origin on exports to the US and more competition from Chinese imports in your sector. The article lists five strategy proposals but the details are cut off, so no concrete policy change is confirmed yet.

Dropbox breach via Lenovo ID login: turn on two-factor login now Blognone · Sep 2, 2026

Dropbox emailed about 5,000 customers that outsiders may have accessed their files through Lenovo ID logins. Dropbox has removed all Lenovo ID connections. Affected users were mainly those without two-step verification, and about one in three of those logged into was actually accessed. If your team uses Dropbox or signs in with Lenovo ID, check whether two-step verification is on for every account, review recent Dropbox activity, and change passwords where needed.

Crude oil climbs to highest since late July on US-Iran war fears, so fuel and transport costs may rise Prachachat · Sep 2, 2026

Brent rose to $94.65 and West Texas to $90.22 per barrel on 1 Sep 2026, up about $4 each, on fears the US-Iran conflict could disrupt Middle East supply and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts say the conflict may drag on, and a larger-than-expected drop in US crude stocks could support prices short term. For a Thai SME, watch diesel and fuel surcharges on deliveries and logistics, and consider whether to lock in fuel or freight costs or build price changes into quotes for the coming weeks.

Government spending hits 90% of FY2026 budget, with 30 Sept deadline to pay out and FY2027 procurement prep allowed early Prachachat · Sep 2, 2026

As of 31 Aug 2026, government agencies had paid out 89.64% of the FY2569 budget (฿3.39 trillion of ฿3.78 trillion); capital spending lagged at 64.52%. Agencies are told to finish payments and inspections of delivered work by 30 Sep 2569, so public projects and contractors' delivery sign-offs may speed up this month. Agencies can start procurement for FY2570 early, but contracts can only be signed once the FY2570 budget act takes effect and funds are allocated. If you supply government projects, get your delivery inspections and invoices in now; for FY2570 bids, expect signing to wait for the budget act.

Gold prices fall 1,050 baht today, jewellery sells at 68,800 baht per baht-weight Prachachat · Sep 2, 2026

Gold fell 1,050 baht from yesterday's close as of 09.21 on 2 Sep 2026. Jewellery (96.5%) sells at 68,800 baht per baht-weight and buys back at about 66,446 baht, a spread of roughly 2,350 baht. Bar gold buys at 67,800 and sells at 68,000. The drop is tied to a firmer US dollar, rising US 10-year yields, and hawkish Fed signals ahead of the 16 Sep FOMC meeting. If you hold gold stock or price gold-linked items, reprice against today's rates and factor the wide jewellery spread into any buy or sell decision. Oil is also rising on Iran-related tensions, which can feed into fuel and energy costs.

A Bank of Japan board member says the central bank should raise rates nimbly and that 2026 is a turning point. Only background for a Thai SME; the direct effect is indirect, via yen moves and Japanese borrowing costs.

US carrier and about 5,000 sailors dock at Laem Chabang for five days of rest, a short Pattaya spending window Bangkok Post · Sep 2, 2026

The USS Abraham Lincoln docked at Laem Chabang with roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines for a five-day rest and recuperation stop. Around 40 buses will shuttle personnel between the port and Pattaya, and officials hope for an economic boost there. Police are adding patrols in Pattaya's beachfront and nightlife areas after raids. If you run a hotel, bar, restaurant, transport or tour business in Pattaya, expect a short surge in demand, but water sports and some activities are off-limits for the crew.

Baht opens weaker at 33.32 per dollar as Fed rate-hike bets rise Prachachat · Sep 2, 2026

The baht opened at 33.32 per dollar on 2 Sep 2026, down from 33.28 the previous close, with a 24-hour range of 33.15-33.45 expected. The dollar strengthened as global bond yields rose on inflation worries tied to renewed US-Iran strikes near the Strait of Hormuz. Markets now price a 66.4% chance the Fed raises rates 0.25% at its September meeting, up from 39.6% a week earlier. For SMEs that import inputs or pay dollar-linked costs, expect pressure on costs; exporters may get a slightly better baht rate. Watch the US jobs report due Friday 4 Sep.

Finance minister plans excise tax hike on imported cars, rate due in September and effective early 2027 Prachachat · Sep 2, 2026

Deputy PM and Finance Minister Ekniti says the government will raise excise tax on cars not produced in Thailand, because FTA deals rule out import tariffs. The rate is still under discussion, with clarity targeted for September and 3-4 months' grace for firms to adjust, so the rule would start in early 2027. Foreign carmakers that commit to local production may keep the current rate, while those that do not invest would have to repay the difference. Car dealers and parts suppliers should expect a softer market in the transition, and those in the EV or auto supply chain should check how the rule affects their orders and pricing.

Fighting between the US and Iran has pushed oil and bond yields up and sent Asian markets lower. The article text was unavailable, so this is based on the headline only. For a Thai SME, watch fuel and diesel costs, and borrowing rates, over the coming weeks.

US carrier Abraham Lincoln docks at Laem Chabang for five-day crew visit, bringing a short spending bump to Pattaya Reuters (via Google News) · Sep 2, 2026

The US carrier Abraham Lincoln arrived at Laem Chabang on 2 September for a five-day rest-and-recreation visit, with about 5,000 personnel going ashore in Pattaya. Officials hope for an economic boost, but US officials have restricted crew activities, including water sports and certain entertainment zones after sunset. Police are adding patrols around Pattaya's beachfront and nightlife areas after recent arrests. For Pattaya businesses, expect a short, possibly limited spending window in early September; plan staffing and stock for a five-day peak, not a lasting trend.

Per the headline only (article text unavailable): the dollar held firm while Middle East hostilities lifted oil prices. For a Thai SME, higher oil can mean higher fuel and freight costs; watch these before pricing or restocking.

Heavy rain and flash-flood warning for the North, Northeast and East today, 2 Sep 2026 Prachachat · Sep 2, 2026

The Thai Meteorological Department warns of heavy rain in parts of the North, Northeast and East over the next 24 hours, with flash floods and mountain runoff possible near streams and low-lying areas. Upper Andaman waves are 2-3 m, so small boats should stay ashore. Plan deliveries and stock movement around flooded routes, and move outdoor goods or equipment off low ground. Tropical storm Sodel is expected to weaken and will not enter Thailand.