Archive
August 27, 2026
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The M82 elevated motorway (Ekachai–Ban Phaeo, about 25 km on Rama 2) opens free from 28 August 2026, 10:00, 24 hours. Four entry/exit points are open: Phan Thai Norasing, Mahachai 1 and 2, and Ban Phaeo. Samut Sakhon 1 and 2 are not yet open. Temporary limits: cars 80 km/h, trucks and buses 65 km/h. Motorcycles, bicycles, tricycles, pedestrians and slow-moving vehicles are banned, so delivery riders and drivers using motorbikes must stay on Rama 2. Tolls are not expected until full opening in 2029 (B.E. 2572); tolling systems are expected to start in 2027.
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From 28 Aug 2026 at 10:00, the M82 elevated motorway (about 25 km, Bang Khun Thian to Ban Phaeo) opens free for a trial, 24 hours. Only four access points are open: Phan Thai Norasing, Mahachai 1, Mahachai 2 and Ban Phaeo. Samut Sakhon 1 and 2 are still closed. Temporary limits: cars max 80 km/h, trucks and buses max 65 km/h. Motorcycles, bicycles, tuk-tuks and pedestrians may not enter; they keep using Phetkasem Road 2 below. Tolls are not charged yet; full tolling is targeted for 2029, with the toll and traffic systems starting in 2027. Drivers delivering along Rama 2 can use it to shorten trips, but plan routes around the open exits and the speed caps.
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Irrigation Dept expects Chao Phraya dam releases of about 700-1,000 cu m/s, which could raise water levels downstream by 0.60-1.50 m. Six Ayutthaya districts outside the flood dykes (Sena, Phak Hai, Bang Ban, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Bang Pa-in, Bang Sai) are on watch. Rain is forecast to increase 29 Aug-1 Sep, and high tides are expected until 29 Aug, with Samut Prakan, Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani also flagged. If your premises, stock or transport sit in these low-lying areas, move goods up and check flood plans now.
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KKP pays THB 3.25, KBANK THB 2.00 and BAY THB 0.60 per share in interim dividends, all ex-dividend on 9 Sep 2026. Only relevant if you hold these shares. Dividends are paid from corporate-tax-paid profit; individual shareholders can claim a 20/80 tax credit under Section 47 bis of the Revenue Code.
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Thai egg and pig producers are lobbying against the corn price guarantee and the 3:1 rule, which requires feed mills to buy 3 parts domestic corn for each 1 part wheat import right. They say feed is over 60% of layer costs, corn prices rose to 12-13 baht/kg after harvest, and Malaysia and Vietnam import corn at about 5-7 baht/kg. The pig association says its sector has lost money for three years. Nothing is decided yet, but if feed costs rise, expect pressure on egg and pork margins and on any contracts priced off feed. Farmers and feed buyers should watch whether the 3:1 rule or the guarantee is revised.
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The Election Commission has resolved to bring criminal cases against 1,767 Senate candidates (1,605 at a 19 May 2026 meeting, plus 162 more on 4 June 2026). Under section 74 of the Senate selection organic law, knowingly filing while ineligible carries 1-10 years in prison, a fine of 20,000-200,000 baht, and a 20-year loss of voting rights. Cases are passing to provincial election offices. For a typical SME owner this is background only: no action needed unless you or your staff were involved in a Senate candidacy.
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Glacier collapse and debris flows triggered flash floods on the Nepal-China border on 26 Aug, with nearly 1,500 people reported missing, including about 800 foreigners. Thai SMEs have no direct action to take. Only watch for travel-related effects if you run tours or send staff or customers to the Nepal-Tibet route.
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Thai exports rose 21.6% in July 2026 while imports rose 36.7%, leaving a 3.61 billion USD trade deficit, the 10th straight monthly deficit. The Commerce Ministry says most imports are machinery parts and semi-finished inputs for export assembly, tied to the AI electronics cycle. For the first seven months, imports grew 37.8% against 18.2% for exports. The ministry expects exports to grow more than its earlier 8-11% forecast, with a revision due in October. Risks flagged: the Strait of Hormuz situation and the outcome of US import tariffs on Thailand. For an SME, expect continued strong demand in electronics supply chains, and keep an eye on the baht and input costs if imports keep outpacing exports.
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The MPC unanimously kept the policy rate at 1.0%. SCB EIC expects it to stay there through 2026-2027 because inflation is not a worry, and says cutting rates would not fix the tight credit faced by SMEs; targeted financial measures are the preferred tool. Q2 inflation came in below forecast, but the MPC expects it to slightly exceed the target band in Q4 2026 and Q1 2027 on fresh food prices (El Niño). SME financing remains tight while large-business lending is growing. Practical read: do not budget for cheaper loans soon; ask your bank about SME-targeted support programmes; watch food input costs into late 2026.
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The Ministry of Industry found 767 factories breaking factory law in 2026 so far. 131 were ordered to stop operating immediately, about 636 were ordered to fix problems, and 391 face prosecution. Instead of only ordering repairs, plants that exceed emission limits or mishandle industrial waste will now be shut down at once. Inspections will use data flags (odd waste records, water, power and raw material use out of line with output) and a public complaint channel, "แจ้งอุต". Over 53% of cases are in the EEC and surrounding provinces. If you run a factory, check your waste manifests, emissions and effluent records now. Amendments to the Factory Act and a new industrial waste law are still pending.
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Thai exports reached US$34.8bn in July 2026, up 21.6% year on year, the 25th straight month of growth. Electronics and electrical goods led, and exports to the US rose 45.3%. Rice grew 5.3% for the first time in 21 months, while farm-based goods overall fell 1.1%. Imports rose 36.7%, so the monthly trade deficit reached US$3.6bn. The agency flagged two risks: energy cost volatility from the Strait of Hormuz and possible US tariff measures on Thailand, which may be more targeted by country and product. For SMEs, the export boom is concentrated in electronics supply chains, so suppliers outside that chain should not expect the same lift. Keep energy and input-cost budgets under review.
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Energy Minister Ekanat Promphan said the draft PDP 2026 will raise clean energy above 60%, possibly to 80-90% if carbon capture is not ready. Public hearings on the draft open 8 September 2569 (2026). Direct PPA for clean power is now open to all industries with no volume cap, previously limited to 2,000 MW for data centres. Government also plans to raise rooftop solar purchases from 500 MW to 1,000-3,000 MW using loan funds. If you run a factory or a shop with high power use, check whether Direct PPA or rooftop solar fits your costs. The E20 ethanol plan is also in the pipeline. These are announcements and plans, not yet final rules.
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The deputy PM, who chairs the BOI, has ordered a rewrite of data-centre investment promotion rules and a temporary halt on BOI approving new data-centre projects. NESDC flags water and electricity use as the main constraint and wants a central database on site, size and utility use, stricter environmental review, and a route for Thai SMEs into the supply chain, since most investment is imported equipment and technology. For a Thai SME: the BOI tax-incentive pipeline for data centres is on hold, and construction, electrical, cooling and water-related suppliers should watch for new local-content and environmental requirements rather than expect a near-term surge in orders.
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The Department of Foreign Trade estimates that if the US applies its Excess Capacity Section 301 list like the Forced Labor one, about 28% of Thai exports would lose competitiveness; the other 72% are already under similar tariffs or exempt (2,120 items). Agriculture, food, pet food, shrimp and processed seafood are being prioritised for exemption requests, with private-sector input. The list of items is not yet fixed and depends on the Excess Capacity ruling (16 countries). Thai officials expect the overall US rate could sit near 19-20%, but nothing is final. For exporters in these sectors: start documenting your products, costs and US supply-chain role now, and hold off on pricing or contract commitments until the technical talks and US ruling are known.
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The article covers US backlash against data centres: at least 75 projects worth about US$130bn were delayed or halted in Q1 this year, per Bloomberg, mainly over electricity bills and water use. Farmers in Montana worry that water used for cooling will be taken from cattle ranching. For a Thai SME this is mostly background, but it matters because a related Thai story in the same piece-set notes BOI is tightening rules on data-centre electricity and water tariffs. Watch that space if your business depends on local water or power supply.
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Major platforms (TikTok, YouTube Shopping, Meta on Facebook and now Instagram) are all pushing affiliate programmes where creators earn a commission on sales. A Thai creator association head says TikTok's "tie-in" affiliate links let brands measure each creator's sales directly, e.g. a 30,000 baht fee producing 700,000 baht in sales versus a 20,000 baht fee producing only 5,000 baht. Brands in the example shifted about 1.5m of a 2m budget into affiliate. For a small business, the practical step is to test affiliate with a few creators on a pay-per-sale basis and track which ones actually sell before committing big fixed fees. The article is a comparison piece and gives no fee rates or Thai-specific rules.
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