Archive
August 24, 2026
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The US Treasury Secretary announced a major new economic pressure campaign against Iran, aimed at banks, businesses and countries still trading with Tehran. Iran has threatened to block oil exports from the Persian Gulf, including through the Strait of Hormuz. That could raise oil and energy prices and hit shipping. For a Thai SME, check how much your fuel, freight and energy costs depend on imported oil, and consider a buffer in your budget. Also check whether any of your suppliers or payment channels touch Iran-linked trade, since sanctions could affect bank transfers.
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The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) reports Q1 2026 household debt at 16.41 trillion baht, 85.9% of GDP, slightly down from 86.7% in Q4 2025. Personal loans grew 4.82% and housing loans 1.73%. Total NPLs fell slightly, but loans 31-90 days overdue rose, which NESDC flags as a watch item. Of borrowers in government debt-relief schemes from 2019-2025 who went bad, only 15% returned to regular payments. Expect banks to scrutinise customer repayment records and cash flow more closely, and if your business relies on owner or staff personal loans, keep repayments current to avoid being flagged. Government support may shift toward case-by-case measures.
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As of 23 August 2026, the four main dams (Bhumibol, Sirikit, Kheo Noi and Pasak Chonlasit) held about 60% of capacity and could take roughly 9,999 million cubic metres more. The Nakhon Sawan gauge sits 6.62 m below the bank, and no flooding has been reported in the eight central provinces, including Bangkok. Tropical storm Nara is forecast to hit southern China, not Thailand directly. For now no action is needed, but if you run a business in low-lying or flood-prone areas along the river, keep checking official water and rain updates through the rainy season.
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The National Intelligence Agency director says recent attacks in the Deep South may continue as peace talks approach in late October, with the rainy season and military rotations also cited. Authorities plan to ask Malaysia to tighten border monitoring. For a Thai SME in the far South, expect possible security checkpoints, road disruptions and extra caution around local government targets. No direct change to business rules, costs or permits is announced.
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The Employee Support Fund law takes effect 1 October. The NESDC estimates about 107,000 workplaces, 80.7% of firms with 10 or more employees, will have to remit contributions, covering roughly 5.7 million workers. If you have 10+ staff, check your registration and payroll setup before October and budget for the contribution. The NESDC also says many workers know little about their dismissal rights, so explain them clearly to staff. Unemployment is 0.95% in Q2 2026, and the NESDC flags El Niño risk to farm employment.
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Gold Association prices as of 24 Aug 2026 (09:51): bars buy 71,300 / sell 71,500 baht per baht weight; jewellery buy about 69,872 / sell 72,300 baht. Up 350 baht from the previous close. Gold spot is about US$4,633/oz. Reprice shop stock and buy-back quotes against the latest announcement, since the association updates several times a day. Brent and WTI are also rising ahead of new US sanctions announced for 25 Aug, which could lift fuel and transport costs.
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The Finance Ministry wants three scoring systems in use: the existing NCB credit score, the new Ari Score, and a BSY Score from the SME credit guarantee agency. Ari Score is expected to go to the cabinet in August, with use about two months later. GSB is preparing loans for vendors in the Thai Chuay Thai Plus scheme (over 1.1 million registered), using sales data from the Nok Krasib AI assistant in the Thung Ngern app. The scheme ends at the end of September 2026, and loan size and terms are not yet set. If you are a registered small vendor, keep your sales records up to date in the app, since they may serve as loan evidence. Otherwise, treat this as background for now.
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Durian prices at Guangzhou's Jiangnan wholesale market were 28-31 yuan/kg in August, versus 29-39 a year earlier, and some retail prices have nearly halved. China's imports rose over 45% in the first seven months of the year, and Thailand still supplies over three-quarters of China's durian imports by value (US$4.55 billion, January-July). The China-Laos-Thailand all-rail cold chain now reaches Chengdu in about three days. For Thai durian sellers and exporters, expect tighter export margins and more competition from Vietnam, Malaysia and Laos, so plan pricing and buyer contracts for lower China prices, and watch the new rail route as a faster channel.
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Brent rose to about $94.39 and West Texas Intermediate to about $87.06 a barrel (data as of 21 Aug 2026), up six sessions in a row. The US is due to announce new economic sanctions on Iran on Monday 24 Aug, which could widen to Iran's trading partners including China. Kpler says about 41 million barrels of Iranian crude are stuck on tankers near the Strait of Hormuz. For a Thai SME, fuel and diesel costs and transport or logistics surcharges may tick up this quarter. Review fuel-heavy cost lines and supplier price-adjustment clauses, and watch the pump price in the coming weeks.
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The baht opened at 32.63 per US dollar on 24 Aug, close to Friday's close of 32.70, with support at 32.55 and resistance at 32.85 for the next 24 hours. The dollar weakened on Friday near a three-month low against the euro, partly on worries about a planned US Treasury increase in long-term bond buybacks. Foreign investors sold a net 1,467 million baht of Thai bonds and bought a net 1,881 million baht of Thai stocks on Friday. For an SME, this is a small daily move: if you pay USD suppliers or price export quotes, check the rate against your current assumptions, and avoid locking in large FX positions on a 24-hour view.
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The Trade Competition Commission (TCC) is drafting minimum standards for ride-hailing and on-demand delivery platforms after 18 complaints, including forced promotions, account suspensions, unfair job allocation by algorithm, and commission (GP) above 30%. Market players have fallen from 5-6 to 2. Platforms may be required to verify drivers and keep records, and to disclose pricing and algorithm logic. Roadmap: study and draft standards in July-August 2026, with a Code of Practice first before binding rules. For SME operators using these platforms as a sales channel, watch for changes to commission terms and how jobs and prices are allocated. No immediate action is required.
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The Thai Retail Association forecasts retail market growth of 3% to about 4.38 trillion baht in 2026, and 3-3.5% in 2027. Sales in Q3-Q4 are expected to stay flat year on year, with customers buying fewer items per receipt. Non-essentials like clothing, furniture and home decor are weakest. The association is proposing measures: VAT refund, Easy E-Receipt, a Kon Larn Krueng Plus style scheme, tighter checks on cheap imports, platform tax responsibility, and hourly employment rules. These are proposals only, not yet policy. Plan Q4 stock and staffing cautiously, and watch for the Thai-Chuay-Thai Plus follow-on after its September end.
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The energy subcommittee will put four scenarios of the PDP 2026 power plan to public hearings in September 2026 before they go to the energy policy committee (กบง.), then the national energy policy council and cabinet. All options share a clean-energy share of at least 60% (some up to about 80%), small modular nuclear (SMR) at roughly 2,400-4,000 MW studied by EGAT, battery storage (BESS), and a target to keep average electricity cost over the plan under 4 baht per unit. Gas stays an important fuel for system security. For an SME, this is a draft still open to comment: the final tariff path and industrial green-power demand from data centres and new estates are not yet settled, so plan on power costs staying uncertain rather than locking in a rate.
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The Peace-Building Society Act 2026 was published in the Royal Gazette and took effect on 24 August 2026. It grants amnesty for political rally and expression offences committed between 1 January 2005 and 16 July 2025, covering 31 offence categories across several laws. Excluded are corruption, Section 112 lèse-majesté, and offences causing death or serious injury. For a business owner, there is no direct change to tax, costs, or permits. It may matter only if staff or partners were previously tied to protest-related cases, or for general political-climate awareness.
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Bangchak's pump prices today: diesel B7 38.39 baht/litre, B20 33.39 baht/litre, Hi Premium Diesel Plus 49.25 baht; gasohol 95 at 37.69 and gasohol 91 at 37.32 baht/litre. Prices exclude Bangkok's local land tax. Tomorrow's prices take effect at 05:00, so check your fuel budget and fleet refuelling plans each morning. Confirm the price at your own station, as these are reference figures.
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The Meteorological Department forecasts thunderstorms and heavy rain in parts of the north, central and east for the next 24 hours, with flash-flood and flood-river risk near hills and low-lying areas. Storm Narra will not hit Thailand directly. Waves of 2-3 metres in the upper Andaman mean small boats should stay ashore. If your site, stock or deliveries sit in flood-prone low ground or on the Andaman coast, move goods and plan delivery timing around the next day's forecast.
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August 23, 2026
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Thai energy regulators (DOEB) plan to standardise pyrolysis production, quality and safety rules, after the Middle East war pushed the government to revisit plastic-to-oil fuel. The oil works as a substitute for industrial boilers and furnaces, but not directly in most cars or diesel engines without refining. Six refineries have already cut Middle Eastern crude from 58% to 30% of imports. For an SME, this is a signal to watch rather than act on: if you run boilers or furnaces, a cheaper alternative fuel may appear once standards are published. No deadline or cost change is in force yet.
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Vice-Finance Minister Santitarn Sathirathai says BoI will judge foreign investment by the value it adds to Thailand, not just capital, with local content rising steadily over 3-5 years. A subcommittee chaired by Finance Minister Ekniti is reviewing local-content rules, and EV excise and support measures may change to favour domestic production. No new rule is in force yet. For a Thai SME, the opening is supplying parts, services and materials to EV, data centre and other foreign-backed projects; watch for the local-content rules and tax changes.
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A coordinated wave of 51 attacks on Saturday night across Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala included bombings, arson and spikes placed on roads. Narathiwat had a curfew from 10.15pm to 6am, and a rail section between Maruebo and Tanyongmas was temporarily closed for inspection and repairs. The army links the attacks to a crackdown on illicit trade. If you run a business or deliver goods in these provinces, plan around curfews, road closures and rail delays, and avoid affected areas and suspicious objects.
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PM Anutin ordered Nan flood recovery to be fast-tracked, with homes restored within four to five days. Affected households get an initial 6,700 baht per household for bedding, kitchen gear and clothing, paid 30 Aug to 1 Sep; home-repair aid follows after local assessments. Transport Ministry is checking roads and bridges. Heavy rain may return 30 Aug to 6 Sep in the upper North and Northeast, and Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan and Sukhothai are told to stay alert. For Northern businesses: check stock, equipment and shipping routes now, and register for aid if your premises or staff were hit.
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