Archive
August 27, 2026
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
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.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Brent fell to $87.84 and WTI to $82.23 per barrel on 26 Aug 2026, the lowest since 10 Aug, after Iran and Oman discussed a temporary joint shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. Kpler data shows only 5 cargo ships transited on the latest Tuesday, down from a 10-day average of 15 and still below pre-war levels, so supply remains tight. Ukraine's drone attack on Russia's NORSI refinery adds upside risk. For fuel and transport costs, expect prices to stay volatile; do not lock in cost assumptions on this dip alone.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
The Bank of Thailand has published the 2027 (พ.ศ. 2570) holiday calendar for banks and specialised financial institutions: 18 days in total. Key dates include Songkran (13–15 April), Chakri Day (6 April, with 2027 substitute-day rules), Labour Day substitute (3 May), Visakha Bucha (20 May), Asalha Bucha substitute (19 July) and year-end (31 December). Bank branches in Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, Satun and Songkhla also close for Eid and Chinese New Year. Plan bank transfers, loan repayments, cheque clearing and cash deposits around these dates, and check that your payment and payroll timing allows for them. Note that the article gives the Eid dates only as "per the Chief Royal Advisers Council announcement", so confirm the exact days before fixing schedules.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
The SEC is revising the Provident Fund Act. Planned changes include automatic enrolment for employees of firms that run a PVD (employees can still opt out), and letting members pause contributions during financial hardship without leaving the fund. The rules are expected to take effect in 2028 (BE 2571), giving employers time to prepare systems. For an employer, this means reviewing your PVD setup and coverage now and considering it as a retention tool. Staff can also check their PVD Individual Statement, since the SEC plans to make it show projected retirement savings. Only about 67% of members contribute 5% of salary or less, while the law allows up to 15%.
Empower businesses to thrive in the digital age.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Thai Gold Traders Association prices at 9:03am on 27 Aug 2026: bar gold buys at 71,850 baht and sells at 72,050 baht per baht-weight; jewellery gold buys at 70,418.20 and sells at 72,850, up 350 baht from the previous close. Global spot gold is about US$4,641/oz. The buy-sell spread on jewellery is over 2,400 baht, so check prices before buying or selling gold stock, and factor gold costs into jewellery or gold-related pricing.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
USS Abraham Lincoln, carrying about 5,000 sailors and Marines, is expected to dock at Laem Chabang on 2-6 September 2026 to rest and resupply; it is not a joint exercise. Pattaya's mayor estimates each sailor spends about 1,000-3,000 baht, or roughly 5-15 million baht in total, benefiting restaurants, entertainment, transport and tourism services. The figure is a rough estimate and depends on how many sailors are actually allowed ashore. If you run a food, transport or entertainment business in Pattaya, consider short-term staffing and stock for that week.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
The baht opened at 32.82 per dollar, weaker than the previous close of 32.76, with a 24-hour range of 32.70-32.90. The move follows a hotter-than-expected US PCE inflation reading; markets put a 54.7% chance on a Fed rate hike of at least 0.25% at the October meeting. Thailand's policy rate was held at 1.00%. For a business that imports or pays in dollars, costs may drift up; for exporters, the weaker baht helps. Foreign investors bought Thai bonds net THB 5.45bn and sold Thai equities net THB 0.72bn the previous day. Watch Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's Jackson Hole speech on Friday 28 August.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
The Bank of Korea raised rates in back-to-back moves and signalled gradual further tightening as price pressures persist. For a Thai SME, this is a foreign central bank, so no direct action is needed; watch for knock-on effects on regional rates, the baht, and loan costs if the Bank of Thailand follows a similar path.
Your real translator for LINE and Discord.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
The Thai Meteorological Department warns of heavy rain in parts of the East, western North and Central regions, and 60% rain coverage in Bangkok and vicinity, mainly afternoon to evening. Expect possible delays for deliveries and outdoor work, and move stock off low-lying floors. Small boats in the upper Andaman Sea should stay in port, and the upper Gulf of Thailand has 2 m waves with 2 m+ near storms.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Bangchak station prices on 27 Aug: B20 diesel 33.39 baht/litre, up 0.85 baht from the previous day; B7 diesel 38.39 baht; gasohol 95 at 37.69 baht; gasohol 91 at 37.32 baht; gasohol E20 at 32.69 baht. Fuel is a direct cost for delivery vehicles and generators, so check fuel budgets and route costs against these figures. Prices are from one station chain on one day, so confirm against your own supplier's rate before setting prices.
August 26, 2026
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Parliament is debating a 400bn baht emergency loan decree for energy-crisis relief and the energy transition. Opposition MP Sirikanya Tansakun says only one project (Thai Chuay Thai Plus) has been approved in four months, and that the 200bn baht second tranche has no clear plan. She estimates debt interest of at least 10bn baht a year if fully borrowed, and warns public debt could pass 70% of GDP if growth or inflation misses forecasts. Reports suggest 25bn baht of energy-transition money may be moved into a Thai Chuay Thai Plus phase 2. For a small business: watch for which programmes actually open and their eligibility criteria before planning around any state support. Nothing here changes your obligations yet.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
The transport minister told parliament the government wants to help 7 groups switch to EVs: taxis, rental cars (รย.18), public motorcycles, tricycles, public and non-public buses, school vans and trucks. Taxis due for retirement in 2569-2572 number about 29,000, and public motorcycles over 10 years old about 68,000. The scheme is tied to a emergency loan decree (พ.ร.ก.) that is still before parliament, and no subsidy amounts, eligibility rules or start dates were given. If you run any of these vehicles, track the decree's outcome and plan replacement timing, but do not change purchases yet.
Want to buy or sell a business?
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
The House approved an emergency decree letting the Finance Ministry borrow up to 400 billion baht to ease the impact of the energy crisis and fund Thailand's energy transition (BE 2569). The vote was 285 for, 141 against, 52 abstentions. The article gives no detail on how the money will be spent or which relief measures will follow, so watch for the implementing rules on fuel and electricity support. Thai SMEs with high energy costs should expect possible relief, but nothing changes for planning yet.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong says CP's letter invoking its right to terminate the Eastern Economic Corridor high-speed rail contract is not yet legally effective, and the State Railway of Thailand will negotiate with CP on 27 August. The urgent issue is the Airport Rail Link: CP has signalled it may stop running the line, and the State Railway would have to find another operator if it does. The rail contract dispute itself may take a long time in court. For a Thai SME, the practical impact is on airport commuting and staff travel; no action is needed now beyond watching for service changes.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Amazon Web Services is closing Mechanical Turk, its crowdsourcing marketplace for small outsourced tasks such as data labelling, transcription and surveys, on 30 September 2026. It stopped taking new customers last month. AWS says AI tools now handle many of these tasks and the number of active workers has fallen. If your business buys or sells small online task work through this platform, find an alternative provider before the closing date. Otherwise this is background only.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
The organising committee for the 2029 Nakhon Ratchasima horticultural expo has voted to propose to the Cabinet that the venue move from Khong district to Pak Chong district. Khong's sub-district mayor says the district loses expected infrastructure, tourism, economic and job benefits, and asks for the decision to be reconsidered before it is finalised. The decision is not yet final, as it still needs Cabinet approval. If you run a business in Khong or Pak Chong, watch the Cabinet decision before committing new stock, staff or premises tied to expo traffic.
Together GoWeGo! Ferry tickets in Thailand.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Abhisit, Democrat Party leader, argued in parliament against approving the 400 billion baht borrowing decree. His reasons: the Constitutional Court ruling leaves the urgency question to parliament, the 200 billion baht handout programme has no oversight committee yet, and the loan does not address the root cause of energy-driven cost increases. He says the debt could push public finances close to the debt ceiling. For a small business, the practical signal is that the government is borrowing heavily to cushion energy and living costs, so the outcome affects fuel-driven costs and consumer spending. Watch the vote result and any follow-up on diesel pricing or handout programmes before changing budgets.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
Riders and drivers on the Lalamove platform are demanding higher per-km rates, lower commission (from 20% to 15% for riders, 14.55% for drivers) and changes to stacked-job rules. The Digital Economy ministry (DE) and ETDA are mediating a meeting on 27 Aug 2026 at 14:00. No outcome yet. If you rely on delivery platforms or hire riders as contractors, watch the result: it may shift platform pay rules and driver supply, but nothing requires action from your business today.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
The Energy Ministry is moving to classify data centres as a new electricity user category that pays a higher rate, estimated at about 5-6 baht per unit, to reflect LNG import costs. Cabinet-level committee approval (กพช.) also extends Direct PPA access, which was limited to data centres up to 2,000 MW, to all industries wanting clean energy. Policy details are still being finalised and no timeline is fixed. For a small business, the practical signal is that power tariffs may diverge by user type, and a Direct PPA route for clean power may open later. Watch for the official rate and eligibility rules before changing energy plans.
▾ Hover for summary ▾ Tap for summary
On 26 August the Monetary Policy Committee unanimously held its policy rate at 1.00%. It said current rates are "appropriate" for supporting recovery, but it did not rule out cuts if a crisis hits. Officials said a cut now would not be worth the cost, and that transmission to lending rates is limited. They also discussed hikes and judged them unwise given a fragile economy. The committee expects a slow recovery and wants fiscal and targeted financial measures to do the heavy lifting. For a small business: don't count on cheaper loans soon; budget borrowing costs at current levels and watch for targeted support programmes.
Stop running your company on Excel.