Archive
August 26, 2026
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The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) says the employee support fund law takes effect 1 October. About 107,000 workplaces with 10 or more staff, around 80.7% of that group, are expected to have to remit contributions in 2026, covering about 5.7 million workers. Check whether your business has 10+ employees and set up registration and contribution payments before 1 October. The same report flags a weak national wage trend (average wage 15,937 baht, down 0.25% year on year, real wages down 2.88%) and an El Niño drought risk to farm labour into the first half of 2027.
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Deputy PM and Finance Minister Ekniti told parliament the 400bn baht borrowing decree covers energy-crisis relief and the shift to clean energy. He says borrowing will be only as needed, projects will be screened for value, and private firms may invest with the state and sell electricity directly. Q2 current-account deficit was nearly 600bn baht, and the government warned that prolonged cost pressure could close businesses and cut jobs. For an SME: watch for solar and clean-energy project tenders and direct power-sale openings, and plan for continued energy and living-cost pressure while the scheme is still unfolding.
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The government plans a co-payment travel scheme (up to 3,000 baht discount per right, 500,000 rights nationwide), aimed at the Q4 high season. In Chiang Mai, about 20,000 rooms in the city centre but only about 10,000 hold valid hotel licences, so guesthouses and homestays without licences cannot register. SME groups are proposing a safety and hygiene standard in place of the licence requirement, plus gift vouchers for local restaurants and activities. This is still a proposal, not a confirmed rule. If you run a licensed property, watch for Q4 bookings; if you are unlicensed, check whether your licence status can be regularised before registration opens.
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The PM told parliament that a emergency decree (พ.ร.ก.) would let the Finance Ministry borrow up to 400bn baht. Half (200bn) is for relief to people, farmers and businesses hit by the energy crisis; half for energy efficiency, renewable and alternative energy, and skills. Borrowing can be approved by cabinet until 30 Sept 2027. Oil imports from the Middle East are near 50%, so fuel and input costs stay high. Watch for eligibility rules for SME support and whether your energy costs can be reduced via the efficiency programmes. The decree still needs House approval; the outcome was not yet confirmed in the article.
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Eight SET-listed firms, including BCP (3.00 baht/share), TISCO (2.00) and RATCH (0.70), announced interim cash dividends after board meetings on 25 August 2026. Most go ex-dividend 7-9 September. This matters mainly to shareholders, not to a typical SME owner. Only relevant if you hold these shares or track market sentiment.
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The Finance Ministry has signalled it may introduce a tax on gold. MTS Gold (Mae Thong Suk) says it will meet Finance Minister Ekniti this week (25-28 Aug) to oppose it, arguing Singapore and Hong Kong exempt gold and that Thailand scrapped its gold tax in 1998. No tax rate or start date is given in the article. For gold shops and gold-related traders, this is a cost and competitiveness risk to watch, not yet a change to act on.
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The Comptroller General's Department has set rules letting government agencies reserve FY2569 (2026) budget for payments falling into the next fiscal year where a binding contract or PO exists, with no minimum amount, via the New GFMIS Thai system. Agencies must finish the reservation (CX/CK documents, LIST and CONFIRM, status "31") by the last working day of September 2026. If you supply a government agency with a signed contract or PO, ask the buyer whether it has been reserved, since unreserved budget may lapse at year-end. Cancelling a confirmed item requires a letter to the department before that deadline.
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Brent fell to US$88.58 and West Texas to US$82.36 per barrel on 25 Aug 2026, after Iran and Oman agreed to talks on a temporary joint shipping corridor and to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz. US diplomats are returning to the Middle East, which lowers near-term escalation risk. A tanker was still hit near the strait's entrance, so the risk is not gone. For Thai SMEs, fuel and transport costs may ease somewhat, but do not cut diesel or freight budgets yet; watch pump prices and supplier surcharges over the next few weeks before repricing.
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Parliament opened debate on an emergency loan decree (พ.ร.ก.) letting the Finance Ministry borrow up to 400bn baht to address the energy crisis and fund energy transition. The opposition will focus on the 200bn baht energy-transition portion, questioning whether it is urgent, whether it favours specific contractors, and whether it is the right use of borrowing. Government says the decree is lawful and will pass given its majority. For an SME, the outcome of this decree matters for energy costs, electricity bills and possible solar or infrastructure contracts. Nothing needs to change in your business yet; watch the vote and the project details.
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Diesel refining margins hit about $102/barrel on 17 August, nearly three times pre-war levels, because Hormuz shipping is restricted and Russian refineries are damaged by drone strikes. Russia has banned diesel and gas exports until January 2027, and China has also restricted exports. Oil prices are high but not at peak. For a Thai SME that runs diesel trucks or generators, keep fuel budgets conservative and watch pump prices. Expect the pressure to persist into the high-demand season.
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The baht opened at 32.70 per dollar, slightly stronger than the prior close of 32.75, and TTB expects a narrow 32.60–32.90 range over 24 hours, driven mainly by gold prices. Foreign investors sold Thai stocks (THB 958m) and Thai bonds (THB 2,283m) the previous day, a mild downside risk. The Bank of Thailand policy rate is expected to hold at 1.00%, and the US PCE inflation data and the Fed chair's Jackson Hole remarks later this week are the next catalysts. For a business, this is a routine daily move: check your import and export quotes against the range, but no change in plans is needed from this alone.
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Per the Gold Traders Association at 09:00 on 26 Aug 2026, gold jewellery sells at 72,900 baht per baht-weight (up 250 baht from the previous close) and buys back at 70,463.68 baht. Gold bars sell at 72,100 and buy back at 71,900. World spot gold is about US$4,657/oz. The buy-back to sell spread on jewellery is around 2,400 baht, so the price you pay to buy and the price you get to sell back differ a lot. If you hold gold stock or take gold as payment, check today's prices before quoting or pricing in gold. Prices move during the day.
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The State Railway (ร.ฟ.ท.) is renegotiating leases for Or Tor Kor market (about 35 rai) and Chatuchak market (68 rai), with rents expected to be reset to the Treasury Department's new appraisal rates in 2027. Or Tor Kor's 10-year renewal is still under negotiation and rent rises are expected to be modest, but space may shrink for a new Attorney General office access road. Chatuchak's MOU with BMA runs to 2 January 2028, with BMA owing over 1,338 million baht; BMA says it will return the site, and a new operator may be needed. Stallholders report sales down 50-60% since COVID. If you rent a stall at either market, watch for new lease terms and rent levels; the lease itself is not yet final.
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Bangchak pump prices today: B20 diesel 33.39 baht/litre (up 0.85 from yesterday), B7 38.39, gasohol 95 37.69, gasohol 91 37.32, E20 32.69. Prices exclude the Bangkok local land tax. Tomorrow's prices take effect at 05:00. Check the price at your own station before budgeting fuel costs for delivery, transport or machinery this week.
August 25, 2026
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Thai private corporate bond issuance reached 507 billion baht from January to 20 August 2026, close to last year's 517 billion, but fewer companies issued (105 vs 123). Energy is the heaviest issuer, led by GULF with 35 billion baht so far, to fund new projects and acquisitions. Several large banks are repaying maturing bonds from excess liquidity rather than issuing, as lending has slowed. ThaiBMA expects interest rates to stay stable for the last five months of the year. For an SME, this means big borrowers are competing for funds, and bank liquidity is ample, so bank loan pricing may stay favourable. Bond yields are not expected to move much despite US volatility.
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SME D Bank offers soft loans at a fixed 3% for 3 years with no collateral for SMEs, plus relief for borrowers hit by falling sales (principal, interest or instalment cuts). It also has a venture fund over 2,000 million baht for growing firms without collateral. BSD (บสย.) guarantees loans to fill collateral gaps and, under the "Quick Big Win" programme, waives guarantee fees for the first 3 years for micro firms and supply-chain SMEs, with 50,000 million baht in guarantee capacity. It also offers free debt-restructuring advice. If cash flow is tight, check these options before taking high-rate loans. The article does not give application deadlines or eligibility details.
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Thailand has about 4.3 million legal foreign workers, a record and roughly 10% of employed people. Labour-intensive sectors (food processing, seafood, canned food, electronics, garments, furniture, auto parts) still struggle to hire Thais. Myanmar nationals make up about 86%. Cambodian workers have roughly halved since the border closure, with estimates ranging from 194,000 to about 500,000 depending on the source. For SMEs in these sectors, expect continued reliance on migrant labour, tighter permit compliance, and possible staffing gaps if Cambodian headcount keeps falling.
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The cabinet approved 549.99 million baht for flood victims in Nan (from the 2026 central reserve fund, covering rain-season damage since 15 May). Flooded primary homes get 9,000 baht per household; flood deaths get 2 million baht. Renters and residents without house registration also qualify if they live in the disaster zone. Victims need only a local-authority document signed by the village head, kamnan or community leader; no photocopies or photos are required. Farmers with damaged land should file form กษ 01 promptly. Rice paddy compensation is 2,240 baht per rai; field crops and orchards up to 6,800 baht per rai. If you run a business or farm in Nan, check whether your staff or customers are affected and help them file.
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The Tourism Minister says registration for the 'Thai Travel Plus' scheme opens 1 October 2026 on the Paotang app, with rights raised from 500,000 to 1 million (up to 5 per person), funded by 3.5 billion baht from the borrowing decree. It targets tourism operators hit by the energy crisis. Cabinet approval is still pending (aimed for September), and the system is expected ready by December, so timing may shift. Tourism operators should prepare their listings and documents now, and watch for the eligibility criteria. A northern winter campaign for Nan and the north is also being prepared after floods.
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The US is preparing to bring diplomats back to Middle East embassies after evacuating them during the Iran conflict; no direct action is needed for most Thai SMEs, though it is a signal to watch if you export or source in the region.
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