Archive

Gold prices rise 50 baht today: jewellery gold at 72,200 baht per baht-weight Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

Gold Traders Association prices on 28 Aug 2026 (09:08): jewellery gold sells at 72,200 baht per baht-weight, up 50 baht from the previous close; buy-back for 96.5% jewellery is 69,781.48 baht. Bar gold buys at 71,200 and sells at 71,400 baht. World spot gold is about US$4,580 per ounce. If you hold or sell gold jewellery or bullion, or price gold-linked goods, update your daily price list. The gap between sell and buy-back prices is roughly 2,400 baht per baht-weight on jewellery, so buying and reselling quickly costs money.

CORSIA opens a carbon-credit niche for Thai project developers, not most SMEs Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

ICAO's CORSIA scheme requires airlines to offset international flight emissions above a 2019-based baseline, starting its mandatory Second Phase in 2027. Only ICAO-eligible credits (CEEUs) qualify; CEEUs trade around US$15-22/tCO2 now, with forecasts of US$25-36 in 2027, versus US$5-10 for general voluntary credits. Thailand's Premium T-VER is approved for the First Phase, but its Second Phase status is still under ICAO review, with clarity expected in Q4 2026. If you run a forestry, mangrove, rice, renewable energy or refrigerant project, track that decision and keep a backup standard ready. Otherwise, there is no action needed this quarter.

Ayutthaya industrial estates report green flood alert as of 24 August 2026 Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

Industry Minister Wirawuth and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand say Nakhon Luang, Bang Pa-In and Ban Wa estates are all at "Level 1 / green" flood status as of 24 August 2569. Official data: Chao Phraya Dam release 480 m3/s, far below the 3,500 m3/s watch threshold; the four main dams hold 60% of capacity. Estates cite diesel backup pumping for at least 8 hours. For an Ayutthaya factory owner, this means no immediate action, but keep your own flood plan, stock and insurance review current, and watch the water-level reports for changes, since the article is a government reassurance rather than a new policy.

CP's Airport Rail Link operating talks with State Railway resume 7 September, MOU expires 30 September Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

The State Railway of Thailand and the CP group (Asia Era One) have not agreed on a one-year extension to run the Airport Rail Link. The current MOU ends 30 September 2026. Talks resume 7 September, with the State Railway board considering the matter on 10 September. Related items: CP must pay the access fee plus interest by the 18 September interest date, and the 4-1 contract scope (Bang Sue–Don Mueang) is being cut to allow the State Railway to build first. For a small business, this is mainly background: it affects commuter rail operations and the Eastern Economic Corridor project, not day-to-day costs. Watch only if you depend on Airport Rail Link travel or on construction or supply work tied to these projects.

Baht opens at 32.89 per dollar on 28 Aug, with a 32.70–33.00 range expected today Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

The baht opened at 32.89 per dollar, up slightly from the previous close of 32.88, with a 24-hour range of 32.70–33.00 expected (TTB). Markets are watching a speech by Fed Chair Kevin Warsh at Jackson Hole, due 21:00 Thai time. Foreign investors sold a net 5,451.55 million baht of Thai stocks the previous day and bought 156 million baht of Thai bonds. For importers and exporters, this is a routine daily move; no action is needed beyond checking the rate before large dollar payments or quotes.

Diesel at 38.39 baht and B20 at 33.39 baht at Bangchak today, 28 Aug 2026 Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

Bangchak pump prices today: high-speed diesel 38.39 baht/litre, B20 biodiesel 33.39 baht, gasohol 95 37.69 baht, gasohol 91 37.32 baht, E20 32.69 baht. Prices exclude Bangkok's local land tax and take effect tomorrow from 05:00, so check the station before refuelling. For fleets and delivery vehicles, the gap between diesel and B20 is about 5 baht per litre, so confirm which blend your vehicles accept. Figures are from one operator and may differ elsewhere.

Government plans to let agencies reject unreasonably low bids and blacklist contractors faster Bangkok Post · Aug 28, 2026

The Comptroller-General's Department is proposing amendments to the Public Procurement and Supplies Administration Act. Agencies could reject bids priced unreasonably low, even though the current law already allows this. A price-performance criterion and discretionary points (about 5-10% of the score) for well-performing contractors are under consideration. Contractors could be blacklisted without first terminating existing contracts, which would still need to be finished. Appeal criteria would be tightened. This is still a draft, and the project value is under debate. If you bid on government work, price low bids with care and keep your delivery record clean.

Bank of Thailand expects weaker job security as firms automate and hire contract staff Bangkok Post · Aug 28, 2026

The Bank of Thailand expects employment and job security to weaken in the near term. New investment is more capital-intensive: the labour-to-capital ratio fell to 0.2 workers per million baht in 2025 from 0.4-0.45 in 2021. Employers are increasingly using temporary and contract workers to cut salary and welfare costs, and hiring foreign workers where Thai skills are short. Unemployment is still low at 0.95% in Q2 2026, and employment grew 5.1% year on year. For a small business, this points to planning labour costs around flexible contract staff and to keeping skills gaps (language, education) in mind when recruiting.

Immigration deportation rules take effect 28 Aug: foreigners working or running businesses illegally face faster removal Prachachat · Aug 28, 2026

A Prime Ministerial regulation on deportation was signed 26 Aug and takes effect 28 Aug. Foreigners who enter or stay illegally, work or run businesses illegally, use forged documents, or commit offences carrying 5+ years' prison can be deported; authorities must be notified at least 15 days before release from prison. For Thai SMEs, the practical point is compliance: check that any foreign staff or partners hold valid work permits and business licences, since illegal foreign workers now face faster removal. The rules also cover "ban from re-entry" orders. Cost-sharing for deportations will follow a separate Interior Ministry rule.

Researchers report additional backdoors in Chinese-made Zbtlink routers. Full article text was unavailable; if your shop or office uses these devices, check the model and firmware and consider replacing or isolating them.

M6 Bang Pa-in–Pak Chong toll-free on weekends this month, cutting 1–2 hours off Bangkok–Isan trips Prachachat · Aug 27, 2026

The Transport Ministry opened the Bang Pa-in–Pak Chong section of motorway M6 (about 110 km) for free trial use every Friday 12:00 to Sunday 24:00. The next trial weekend is 28–30 August 2026. Drivers report saving about 1–2 hours on the route to Nakhon Ratchasima, and over 60,000 vehicles used the trial in the first weekend. If your deliveries, sales trips or staff travel run between Bangkok and the Saraburi, Pak Chong or Nakhon Ratchasima corridor, plan routes around the open weekends. The ministry says it will close the road again after each trial to finish the remaining work, so do not build it into weekday schedules.

Foreign condo buying slowed in H1 2026 as Chinese buyers pulled back, while Russian buyers rose 75.9% in Phuket and Chonburi Prachachat · Aug 27, 2026

REIC data for H1 2026: nationwide home transfers rose 17.6% to 167,665 units, helped by reduced transfer and mortgage fees and looser LTV rules. Foreign condo transfers fell 8.8% in units to 6,533 (28,267 million baht, down 1.5%). China fell 27.7% to 6,874 million baht but remains the top buyer in Bangkok and Chonburi. Russia rose 75.9% to 3,603 million baht, concentrated in Phuket and Chonburi. Myanmar fell 16.2%, focused on Bangkok. If you sell or rent property in Phuket, Chonburi or Bangkok, plan for shifting buyer nationalities; Chinese-focused sales and marketing may need adjusting.

Bank of Thailand governor says rates are not locked at 1% for long, so borrowing costs could move either way Prachachat · Aug 27, 2026

Governor Vittai Ratanakorn told Bloomberg the policy rate (1%) is not committed to stay unchanged for long, despite market expectations of a long hold. Rate moves could go either way: inflation above forecast or a fast baht slide would push rates up, while a new mini-COVID style slump could bring cuts. The baht fell about 4% this year but has gained about 2% in August. For a small business, do not lock in plans on the assumption that loan costs will stay flat; check your floating-rate debt and keep some cash buffer for a possible rise.

Heat and flooding in China may hit crop output and shift global grain trade. Only a distant signal for most Thai SMEs; watch feed and commodity prices if you import agricultural inputs.

Lalamove rider pay dispute goes to DE talks, with a 15-day wait for a new offer Prachachat · Aug 27, 2026

The Digital Economy Ministry is mediating between Lalamove and riders who want a 10 baht per km minimum rate, up from the roughly 3 baht per km some trips average. Lalamove says 3 baht is unfair but that only 5% of riders earn that, and its average is about 5-6 baht. No rate commitment yet; Lalamove will re-submit within 15 days. ETDA will study a minimum reference price. Penalties for cancellations were cut from 3 days to 1. For a business that relies on Lalamove or similar delivery apps, expect delivery pricing and rider availability to shift, though nothing is decided.

Thai stocks may hit a new record in 2027 if company profits keep rising, analysts say The Standard Wealth · Aug 27, 2026

Analysts at Trinity Securities say the SET could pass its 2018 record of 1,852 points next year if listed companies earn about 117 baht per share, per Bloomberg consensus. BofA's earnings revision ratio for Thai stocks in August was 3.07x, the highest in Asia Pacific ex-Japan. Key conditions: interest rates stay near 1% (the BoT held at 1.00% on 26 August) and FDI keeps flowing. Watch the government's tighter screening of investment-promotion applicants, which could mean actual investment falls short of approved figures. For a small business this is market background; no immediate action is needed.

Civil servant pension fund GPF wants law changed so retirees can put lump sums back in Prachachat · Aug 27, 2026

GPF (กบข.), the civil servant pension fund, is drafting amendments so former members can return retirement lump sums or monthly pensions to be managed by the fund. The draft still needs board approval, Finance Ministry and cabinet sign-off, then parliament, so nothing changes soon. It is mainly relevant to retired civil servants and their families, not to most SME owners. The fund is also reviewing a Total Portfolio Approach to risk, with a proposal expected at year-end.

Treasury Keeps Gold Tax Off the Table for Now, But Gold Shops Become Anti-Laundering Front Line Prachachat · Aug 27, 2026

The Gold Traders Association met the Finance Ministry's permanent secretary on 27 Aug 2026. The ministry has not decided on a gold tax, though the gold trade says it was told the government is not pressing that button yet. The bigger signal: gold shops may join a "Connect the Dot" committee as front-line checkers for suspicious money, and the ministry is considering linking buyers' data to the welfare-card (poor-person card) and credit bureau records. Gold shops should expect tighter KYC and red-flag checks on large purchases, so keep buyer ID and source-of-funds records in order. Watch for official rules before changing prices or policy.

Livestock group asks Commerce Ministry to fix corn import rules before WTO quota lapses end-2026 Prachachat · Aug 27, 2026

The Livestock and Aquaculture Federation has written to Commerce Minister Supajee asking for changes to corn policy. Thailand needs over 9 million tonnes of feed corn a year but produces about 5 million. Imports are tied to buying Thai corn at a 3:1 ratio. The group asks for the 2027 WTO import rules to be issued three months early, a 2:1 ratio temporarily, and the state to bear farmer support costs instead of the feed and livestock sectors. The 2026 WTO notice expires 31 December. If you buy feed, poultry or pork inputs, expect cost pressure; this is a proposal, not yet a decision.

Maize prices held at 7.05 baht/kg as import plans for 120,000 t of US corn are shelved Prachachat · Aug 27, 2026

The Commerce Ministry extended the existing maize purchase announcement until a new one is issued: Grade 2 corn at 30% moisture is set at 7.05 baht/kg, with other moisture levels adjusted by quality criteria. Feed millers have been asked to delay the rest of their imports until after New Year, and the Government Warehouse Organization has cancelled its planned ASEAN-framework corn import. The 120,000 t US corn is within the existing 3:1 quota shared with wheat, not extra quota. Farmers should sell standard-quality produce, especially at correct moisture, broken kernels and impurities. Authorities say 27 of 32 buying stations have reopened; 5 are still closed. Traders should check their scale and moisture meters, since the Department of Internal Trade is inspecting them and found 2 buyers non-compliant.