Archive
August 29, 2026
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The government has an online public hearing on a proposed 450-baht tourism fee for foreign arrivals, open until 28 September. The 27-question survey is in Thai only, and the language toggle does not work; users must right-click and use browser translation. If your business depends on foreign tourists, this is the window to submit a view. The columnist also questions several definitions in the survey, including who counts as a "foreign tourist", and whether the answers will change anything.
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The energy ministry says the new PDP 2026 plan targets at least 65% clean power, with natural gas kept as firm base load at about 11%. Public consultation opens 8 September 2026. The ministry is also widening Direct PPA, which lets firms buy clean electricity directly from producers and use the national grid, from data centres to all industries. Grid wheeling charges are still under consideration. Exporters facing CBAM and carbon targets should watch the consultation and the wheeling tariff. LNG-driven power costs could rise above 5 baht per unit, so energy costs stay a planning risk.
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The Commerce Ministry is pushing to close a price deal with COFCO (China's state buyer) for 60,000 more tonnes of rice, on top of the 500,000-tonne G-to-G order the cabinet approved on 5 August 2026. If agreed, it adds a buyer for the main-crop harvest arriving late in the year and may lift paddy prices for farmers. Rice millers, traders and suppliers should watch for price terms and the contract amendment expected by year-end. The ministry targets 7 million tonnes of exports this year. No deal has been signed yet, so do not price contracts on it.
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A fire at Klong Tom Center damaged about 300 stalls, with roughly 100 operators affected; about 70 had registered by the report. Affected vendors can register at the Pom Prap Sattru Phai district office (temporary point at Wat Phra Phiren sala, 29 Aug 2569 08.00-16.00; from 30 Aug at the district administration office, 2nd floor, 08.00-16.00). Bring a copy of your ID card, your lease, a police report and photos of the damage. The district will then issue a victim certificate and schedule aid payments. Damage value is not yet assessed. Avoid the area: smoke may be toxic (batteries, solar panels, chemicals were stored there).
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A fire at Khlong Thom Center market has been brought under control, but hot spots remain and the building structure was damaged and partly collapsed. The PM said the building carries structural insurance, so affected traders may be compensated under the policy terms, depending on damage assessment and the owners' decision on whether to reopen. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said affected shop and stall operators can register with BMA for partial aid and compensation at the command centre near Wat Phra Phiren. Keep documentation of lost stock and damage, and do not remove goods without authorities' guidance. The cause is still under investigation.
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The opposition People's Party is preparing a no-confidence motion against the government, focused on the 2024 Senate election, local-government recruitment exam irregularities, the TH-AI Passport project and a planned 400-billion-baht emergency borrowing decree. The article is political analysis with no concrete policy change yet. For an SME owner, the only item to watch is the 400-billion-baht emergency borrowing decree, since it could affect public spending and government projects if the debate changes its course. Otherwise, no action is needed this quarter.
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Jan-Jul 2026: IP Department and police, Customs and DSI made 512 IP cases, seized about 1.847 million items (economic damage about 809 million baht). Online channels: 140 cases, about 322,000 items. Enforcement covers Pathum Wan, Sukhumvit, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani and Phuket malls and tourist areas, with counterfeit watches, bags, clothing, jewellery, cosmetics, coffee and cocoa drinks, shampoo, toothpaste and car oil. For legitimate Thai sellers, this means enforcement is tightening on both online and offline channels. Check that your own brand and imported stock are genuine and documented. Officials also urge consumers to avoid buying, using, selling or supporting fakes. Tips go to 0 2547 4702 or hotline 1368.
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Gold jewellery (96.5%) sells at 70,950 baht per baht weight and buys back at 68,553.52 baht, per the Thai Gold Traders Association at 09:08 on 29 Aug 2026. Bar gold buys at 69,950 and sells at 70,150. The spot price is US$4,455 per ounce. The spread between buying and selling is about 2,400 baht on jewellery, so a buy-now-sell-later plan loses that margin. Check prices before buying stock for a gold or jewellery shop or quoting customers.
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Thailand's Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) is pushing Thai hotel, restaurant and catering supplies (HORECA), pet products, and Thai textiles and crafts into Vietnam, using demand from tourism growth and Vietnam's hosting of APEC 2027 (Phu Quoc is a key venue). Tools named so far: business-matching, outgoing and incoming missions, and invitations to THAIFEX–HOREC Asia 2027 (2-5 March 2027, Impact Muang Thong Thani) and the Vietnam International Travel Mart in Phu Quoc. No funding or concrete buyer orders are reported. If you make hotel or restaurant supplies, this is a reason to register interest with DITP and prepare Vietnam-ready product and pricing; otherwise it is background.
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The Finance Ministry's screening board sent back projects that lacked detail under the 400-billion-baht energy-transition loan decree. Rooftop solar for households is the first phase and is expected to be pushed through in September, with first cabinet approvals from October. The reported subsidy is 50,000 baht per household, targeting 1 million homes, about 50,000 million baht in total. Eligibility rules: projects must be urgent, not already budgeted, able to start right after cabinet approval, and use Thai-made materials; work must finish by 30 Sep 2027 and payments by 31 Dec 2027. Consultancy, research, study tours and overseas travel are excluded. Solar installers and EV-related suppliers should prepare Thai-made product lines and compliance documents now; the subsidy details are not final.
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The Finance Ministry is moving to raise excise tax on imported EVs to protect local car production. The EV board meets on 7 September. Unofficial reports say the rate could reach 30-32% from the current 10%, in steps over about a year. Dealers warn of price rises of up to 20% and buyers may cancel bookings. If you sell, service or import cars or parts, check your pending orders and pricing now. Watch for the 7 September decision.
August 28, 2026
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Cabinet holds its first off-site meeting in Songkhla on 31 Aug–1 Sep 2026. Five southern border provinces have put forward 199 projects worth about 57 bn baht, which will go to the cabinet on 1 Sep. The government also plans a flood and disaster insurance scheme run by private insurers with state funding, covering 20 million households, to take effect 1 October if approved. Contractors and suppliers in the south should watch which projects get approved; owners in flood-prone areas should check whether the insurance scheme applies to them once details are published.
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The Meteorological Department forecasts 60-70% rain coverage for the north, northeast, east and central regions on 29 Aug 2026, with heavy to very heavy rain in some areas. Bangkok and the south (east coast) are at about 40%. Flash floods and flash torrents are possible near slopes and low-lying areas. For a business: move stock off ground floors, secure outdoor equipment, plan delivery routes around flood-prone roads, and expect staff or customer travel delays. In the Andaman Sea, waves reach 2-3 m and small boats should stay ashore.
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Bangchak posted 29 Aug prices: high-speed diesel 38.39 baht/litre, B20 diesel 33.39 baht (up 0.85 baht from the day before), gasohol 95 at 37.69 baht, gasohol 91 at 37.32 baht, E20 at 32.69 baht. Prices take effect at 05:00 the next day. These are reference prices before the Bangkok local-area tax, so check your local station. If your fleet or delivery costs run on diesel, rebudget fuel for the coming week, and consider whether B20 suits your vehicles.
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The government plans to put 200 billion baht from a borrowing decree into an energy transition programme, starting with rooftop solar on government buildings, state enterprises and households. Officials say households would get a 50,000-baht subsidy per installation, with the Government Savings Bank and Government Housing Bank offering low-interest loans. A smart grid and direct power purchase arrangements are also being prepared. Details, eligibility and start dates are not yet set in this report, so for now this is a reason to get quotes and watch for the scheme rules rather than a reason to commit.
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The Tourism Department plans to restore pre-pandemic security deposits for licensed tour companies: 10,000 baht (area-specific) or 50,000 baht (domestic), up from 3,000 and 15,000 baht; inbound operators 100,000 baht and general outbound operators 200,000 baht, up from 30,000 and 60,000. The ministerial draft is open for public comment on law.go.th until next month. The Thai Travel Agents Association says the hike will strain cash flow for small and medium operators and will not stop fraud by illegal operators. Tour operators should check their licence category, budget for the higher deposit and consider submitting comments before the consultation closes.
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A fire on Friday night partly collapsed the Klongthom Centre on Worachak Road in Pomprap Sattruphai, a steel-frame building with about 500 shops selling electronics, tools and car audio. Fire was under control by 11.13pm and no one was reported trapped. For shop owners in Klongthom or nearby wholesale trade, check your stock, insurance and supplier arrangements, and review your own building's fire safety and exit routes.
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A fire on Friday night (28 Aug 2026) at Klongthom Center on Worachak Road, Pomprap Sattruphai, gutted a three-storey steel-frame building that held about 500 shops selling electronics, tools, car audio and toys. The fire was brought under control at 11.13pm, and no one was reported trapped. If you trade from or stock goods in this area, check your stock and insurance cover, and expect disruption to wholesale supply from this hub. Nothing in the report sets out new rules for other businesses.
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Speaking at the Jackson Hole symposium (27-29 August), Fed chair Kevin Warsh said inflation remains above the 2% target and the Fed's focus is on prices. Markets now expect a rate hike at the September FOMC meeting. For a Thai SME this is indirect: higher US rates can firm the US dollar and push up imported costs and loan rates over time. Review USD-linked import costs and any floating-rate loans, but no action is needed yet.
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PM Anutin says Asia Era One (CP-led, with Italian-Thai Development and China Railway Construction) will find it hard to terminate the dormant 220-billion-baht high-speed rail deal and the Airport Rail Link operating contract. He warns that early termination would blacklist the company from future state bids. Italian-Thai relies heavily on government work. The Airport Rail Link contract expires at end-September, and talks with the EEC Office and SRT are expected soon. For most SMEs this changes nothing today; watch it if you supply or subcontract to these contractors or to state rail projects.
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