Archive

SEC seeks comment on letting Thai retail investors trade overseas digital-asset derivatives Prachachat · Aug 31, 2026

The SEC is consulting until 30 Sep 2026 on rules for brokers taking clients into overseas crypto-linked futures and derivatives. Retail and HNW clients would be allowed only on products matching Thai-listed terms and cleared through a central counterparty on an IOSCO- or WFE-regulated exchange. Anything outside those conditions would be limited to institutional investors. This is a regulatory proposal, not a change in force. Business owners not in investment or brokerage have no action to take.

Transport ministry proposes 30bn baht energy-transition plan: fuel relief for operators and a shift of taxis, vans and buses to EV, hybrid or B20 Prachachat · Aug 31, 2026

The Transport Ministry has sent two proposals to a screening committee, totalling about 30bn baht from the 200bn baht emergency loan decree for energy transition. (1) DLT Ready Support Phase 2, about 6bn baht, helps transport operators with fuel costs and keeps fares affordable; Phase 1 is about 80% disbursed. It could start immediately if approved. (2) About 24bn baht to convert seven public-transport groups (taxis, motorcycle taxis, three-wheelers, buses, coaches, school vehicles, and cargo trucks) to EV, hybrid or biodiesel-capable vehicles such as B20. Start is targeted as early as October 2026 and approval is not certain. If not funded, it may move to the 2028 budget plan. Transport operators should watch the committee decision and check eligibility.

Treasury collected 44.3 billion baht above target in first 10 months, but excise and customs fell short Prachachat · Aug 31, 2026

Government net revenue for October 2025 to July 2026 reached 2.366 trillion baht, 44,830 million above estimate (1.9%) and 5% higher year on year. Drivers: VAT, extra dividends from state enterprises and Wayuphak fund, and bond premiums. Corporate income tax refunds ran 21,133 million above estimate (6.5%), which the Revenue Department says is a faster refund process meant to ease cash flow for businesses. Excise was 4,959 million below target and customs 5,731 million below (5.6%). For a Thai SME this is background: faster CIT refunds are worth checking if you are owed one, and weak excise and customs take may signal softer tax-sector activity.

US carrier crew visit to Pattaya may lift short-term spending, but expect tighter police patrols in nightlife areas Bangkok Post · Aug 31, 2026

The USS Abraham Lincoln, with about 5,000 sailors and Marines, is due to dock at Laem Chabang on Wednesday for rest and recuperation after 200+ days at sea. Pattaya's mayor estimates each US serviceman could spend 1,000 to 3,000 baht a day, depending on time ashore and overnight stays, though shore leave is staggered. Pattaya police are adding patrols and raids around the beachfront and nightlife district. If your business is in hospitality, food, transport or retail in Pattaya, expect a short-term bump, but staggered visits and enforcement may limit it. Plan staffing for a brief spike rather than a lasting trend.

Cabinet may approve flood insurance for every household in Hat Yai first, before wider rollout Prachachat · Aug 31, 2026

The PM visited Hat Yai (Songkhla) on 31 Aug and said Cabinet will approve in principle a flood insurance scheme for every household there, before extending it to other areas. Cabinet was to meet on 1 Sep. Details such as premiums, coverage and eligibility were not given in the text. For SME owners in flood-prone southern provinces, watch the Cabinet outcome and the insurance terms; the drainage budget for the Hat Yai canal basin is said to be in the draft FY2027 budget.

Klongthom Centre fire: collapsed floors block investigators, arson not ruled out Bangkok Post · Aug 31, 2026

Fire destroyed the three-decade-old Klongthom Centre on Worachak Road (about 500 shops, mostly tools, electronics, car audio and toys) last Friday night. Two upper parking floors collapsed onto the origin point, so police cannot yet examine the site, and arson is not ruled out. 170 affected parties have filed complaints. If you trade in or supply through Klongthom or nearby Worachak Road, check your own insurance and stock records, and expect the road closure to continue for a while.

LTV relaxed for one year and transfer/mortgage fee cut to 0.01% until 30 June 2027: buyers and developers get a window to act Prachachat · Aug 31, 2026

CBRE says the LTV easing (for one year) and the transfer/mortgage fee cut to 0.01% are extended to end 30 June 2027 (พ.ศ. 2570). For property businesses, this is a chance to speed up sales of ready-to-transfer stock and improve cash flow. Buyers can borrow more of the price and pay less on transfer day, but banks still assess repayment ability and credit quality closely. Freelancers and first-time buyers should document income and savings now to improve loan approval odds. The article is a CBRE commentary; it gives no figures on take-up or bank lending rules.

Southern double-track rail phase 2 heads to cabinet, with 110 billion baht over 5 years Prachachat · Aug 31, 2026

The Transport Ministry plans to propose phase 2 of the double-track rail project to a cabinet meeting in Songkhla on 1 September, with a total of 110 billion baht committed over 5 years. Only two of the three lines are going forward now: Nakhon Si Thammarat to Hat Yai, and Hat Yai to Padang Besar. Hat Yai to Songkhla must be reviewed first. Each project segment takes 48 to 60 months, and the state funds it entirely. For a southern SME, this is a long-term signal about logistics and construction demand, not an immediate change. Cabinet approval has not yet been granted.

Based on the headline only: India's central bank is stepping into currency markets, including swaps, to defend the rupee against oil costs and expected US rate hikes. Thai SME owners have no direct action here; watch the baht and fuel prices if the same pressures reach Thailand.

Ministry of Industry data checks now flag factories for waste, water and output mismatches Bangkok Post · Aug 31, 2026

The government has found 767 factories operating unlawfully this year, 53% of them in the EEC (Chon Buri, Rayong, Chachoengsao). 131 were ordered to suspend, 636 told to fix problems, and 391 face legal action. Inspections now cross-check waste handling, water and electricity use, raw material use and output against production data, and the i-Auditor system sends findings to field inspectors. If you run a factory, check that your licence or notification matches your actual operations, and that your waste records, water and power use reconcile with your output. Members of the public can also report factories via the "Jaeng Ut" platform.

Excise department plans CO2-based car tax, opening incentives to hybrids as well as EVs The Standard Wealth · Aug 31, 2026

The Excise Department is reviewing car excise tax so that CO2 emissions, not vehicle type alone, decide tax incentives. The scheme would cover BEV, HEV, PHEV and EREV, giving combustion-engine makers a path into hybrids. The stated goal is to turn Thailand from an EV production base into an export hub, with more local high-value parts content. No rates or timeline were given yet. For most SMEs this is background: watch for the draft rules if you supply automotive parts or run a vehicle-related business.

Excise plans one tobacco tax rate and prepay tax on exports; rules may take effect by year-end The Standard Wealth · Aug 31, 2026

The Excise Department has finished departmental hearings on moving cigarettes from the current two-tier tax to a single rate. Academic review is due in October, and the rules are expected to take effect by year-end after a 30-day public consultation and 30 days of revision. Exporters would have to pay excise upfront and then claim a refund only after customs confirms the export, which adds cash-flow cost. Relevant mainly to tobacco and related traders; other SMEs should watch for the rule changes but need no action now.

Today is the last day to appeal your 2026 welfare card rejection at 5 banks or online Prachachat · Aug 31, 2026

The Finance Ministry says 31 Aug 2026 is the last day to file a review request for the 2026 State Welfare Card if you were rejected. Online filing via the welfare website, Paotang or Tang Rat closes at 23:00. Bank branches (Krungthai, Osmall, BAAC, GHB, Islamic Bank of Thailand) accept filings during business hours. Corrections to data can be made at the district OSS office until 20 Sep. Results are announced 30 Sep, and approved e-KYC users must complete identity verification before benefits start 1 Oct. Staff or customers who may be affected should check their status now.

Hat Yai readies flood defences this year as the city seeks more budget Prachachat · Aug 31, 2026

Hat Yai municipality is dredging canals, clearing fallen trees and adding pumps (18 now, wants more than 20) ahead of this year's flood season, with the Songkhla governor coordinating alerts. The city has submitted over 1,000 million baht in projects but is unsure how much will be approved; the transport minister has allocated over 20 million baht for canal dredging. For a Hat Yai business, the practical step is to check flood exposure on your street, move stock and equipment off ground level early, and watch official alerts from the Songkhla governor's office.

Reuters explainer on Indonesia's wildfires, published 31 August 2026. Full text unavailable, so details are unconfirmed. Watch for haze affecting Thai northern and southern provinces and any effect on air quality-related operations.

OIC sets rules for influencers promoting insurance: paid promotion needs a licence and written contracts Prachachat · Aug 31, 2026

The Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) issued guidance for influencers, bloggers and creators posting about insurance. General education and sharing your own policy experience (clearly labelled as personal) are allowed without a licence. Recommending or steering people to a specific policy for pay requires an agent or broker licence. Paid insurer campaigns need a written contract before starting, written approval for each post, pay not tied to policy sales, and clear disclosure of the sponsor and licence status. If your business promotes insurance products online, or hires creators to do so, check these rules before your next campaign. Promoting foreign insurers not licensed in Thailand is banned.

US strikes Iranian missile site as Hormuz clashes resume, pushing oil up Prachachat · Aug 31, 2026

US forces struck an Iranian rocket site that was preparing to fire mines into the Strait of Hormuz, the first clash in over a month. Brent rose 1.4% to $89.30 a barrel in early Asian trade, and US futures fell. Analysts say renewed fighting could push energy costs higher and inflation with them. For a Thai SME, watch diesel, fuel surcharges and freight costs over the coming weeks, and avoid locking in cost assumptions based on the earlier calm. The US also plans more economic sanctions, including on a second bank dealing with Iran, which could affect trade payments.

Crude oil prices ease as Gulf supply tightness eases, Brent at US$89.31 Prachachat · Aug 31, 2026

Brent fell to US$89.31 and West Texas to US$83.40 per barrel as of 28 Aug 2026, after Goldman Sachs said Gulf oil exports have recovered to about two-thirds of pre-war levels. Hormuz transit is near 10 million barrels a day per Vortexa. Prices are still high and the Middle East conflict is ongoing, so keep fuel and transport costs in your budget rather than cutting them. Watch Thai pump prices for any follow-through; this is a single-week move, not a trend yet.

Songkhla chamber asks government for 25 billion baht soft loan for Hat Yai flood recovery Prachachat · Aug 31, 2026

The Songkhla Chamber of Commerce is proposing four projects to the cabinet's visit to the southern border provinces. The main one is a 25 billion baht soft loan at 1.5% a year over 10 years (fixed for the first 5), capped at 40 million baht per borrower, with credit-bureau checks waived for flood victims and SME Bank guarantees. Only about 80% of Hat Yai businesses have recovered from the late-2025 floods. This is still a proposal, not an approved scheme. If your business was hit, track the cabinet decision and prepare your loan papers. Also watch the Songkhla port dredging plan, which would lower export and import logistics costs.

Senate reviews 400bn baht energy-crisis loan decree; government says public debt stays under 70% cap Prachachat · Aug 31, 2026

The PM told the Senate the 400bn baht borrowing decree, already in force since 9 May 2026 and cleared by the House, is meant to tackle the energy crisis, support affected farmers and businesses, and speed the shift away from fossil fuels. The government says it stays within the 70% public-debt ceiling. The Senate still has to vote to confirm it. For a small business, watch for support programmes for energy-hit operators and any follow-on fuel or electricity cost changes; the article itself sets out no specific subsidy amounts or application steps yet.