Archive

Gold jewellery up 250 baht to 71,950 baht a baht-weight today, 22 Aug 2026 Prachachat · Aug 22, 2026

Gold Traders Association prices at 09:04 today: jewellery sells at 71,950 baht per baht-weight (buys back at 69,523.76), up 250 baht from yesterday's close. Bars sell at 71,150 and buy back at 70,950. World spot is about US$4,605/oz. If you hold gold stock or take gold as payment or collateral, re-check your buy-back margin before pricing or agreeing deals today; the spread between sell and buy-back prices is about 2,400 baht on jewellery.

Oil near $95 and rising as Hormuz stays shut: expect higher fuel, power and freight costs Prachachat · Aug 22, 2026

Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz again and oil has risen to about USD 94-95 a barrel, a four-week high, with some analysts seeing USD 100. The article says higher energy costs pass through to production, electricity, transport and consumer goods, and that refined-product supply is tightening. For a Thai SME, this is a reason to check fuel, freight and electricity cost assumptions for the coming quarter. The US Fed may hold or even raise rates (CME FedWatch gave about 30% for a September hike, about 70% for a hold), so borrowing costs are unlikely to fall soon. The article is mainly market commentary; no Thai policy change is stated.

Heavy rain and flash flood warning for northern, central and eastern Thailand over the next 24 hours Prachachat · Aug 22, 2026

The Thai Meteorological Department warns of thunderstorms over 60% of Bangkok, central, northern and eastern areas, with heavy rain in spots, flash floods and overflowing rivers over the next 24 hours. For a business: protect stock and equipment stored at low or near-stream sites, check drainage and delivery routes, and plan for delays. Small boats in the upper Andaman Sea should stay in port (waves 2-3 m). The storm forming near Hainan is forecast to hit southern China, not Thailand.

Diesel up 0.85 baht a litre today: check Bangchak prices before you budget fuel Prachachat · Aug 22, 2026

Bangchak's reference prices for 22 Aug 2026: diesel B20 33.39 baht/litre (up 0.85 from yesterday), High Diesel S 38.39, gasohol 95 37.69, gasohol 91 37.32, E20 32.69. Prices exclude Bangkok local land tax and take effect at 05:00 the next day. Fleet and delivery operators should update fuel cost assumptions and check actual station prices, since the article says the reference may differ at individual stations.

Nan flood damage estimated at 500 million baht; Nan SMEs seek soft loans and flood insurance support Prachachat · Aug 22, 2026

Flooding in Nan province (Pua and Tha Wang Pha districts most affected) is estimated by the Nan Chamber of Commerce at about 500 million baht in damage, covering households, farms, and riverside shops and resorts. The chamber will ask the government for six measures, including co-paid flood insurance premiums, soft loans, and local tax relief. Officials say Chao Phraya dam levels are below last year and the Chamber expects tourism in high season to be only modestly affected. For Nan businesses: document flood damage now, check your insurance coverage, and watch for soft-loan announcements.

Excise tax on EVs may rise from October, with carmakers asking for a 6-month lead time Prachachat · Aug 22, 2026

The Finance Ministry is reviewing a restructuring of car excise tax that would favour locally made EVs. Current rates: 2% for locally produced EVs, 10% for imported (CBU) EVs. A proposed rate of 32% has been floated, and a change could come as early as October 2026, with details expected by September 2026. Carmakers want a stepped increase (e.g. 15% then 20%) and at least 6 months' notice, warning that cars already ordered at the old cost are arriving and customers may cancel. If you sell, import, finance or service cars or EVs, check your pricing, existing orders and stock now, and avoid committing to new import contracts until the final rate is published.

Rooftop solar now pays 2.2 baht per unit sold to the grid for 10 years, if power flows by end-2027 Bangkok Post · Aug 22, 2026

The ERC launched a solar power purchase programme on July 1 letting households sell surplus electricity to the grid at a fixed 2.2 baht per kWh under a 10-year contract. Each household can sell up to 5 kW per meter, and power must be supplied to the grid by end-2027. The government aims for 500 MW nationwide and a fivefold rise in installations. Businesses with roofs or premises should check roof suitability, installer quotes and the contract terms now, since the deadline is close and the grid-stability rules are still being studied.

Co-payment scheme shoppers stick to ready-to-eat food and essentials, so stock those lines before it ends 30 September Bangkok Post · Aug 22, 2026

A TPSO survey of the "Thais Helps Thais Plus (60/40)" co-payment scheme found beneficiaries spent mostly on ready-to-eat food (48.22%), fresh food (38.87%) and household necessities (32.22%). The scheme ends 30 September. About 38% said they would keep buying from the same shops after it ends (31.58% mostly, 6.55% entirely), and only 0.88% said they would not return. Expect a drop in this demand after 30 September, so plan stock and cash flow for it. Keep regulars by offering the same staples.

Government studies banning induction-furnace steel by 2028, a shift for construction-material buyers Bangkok Post · Aug 22, 2026

Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa says the government is running a feasibility study on banning induction furnace (IF) steel by 2028. Producers argue IF steel lacks the refining step that removes sulphur, phosphorus and boron, so it poses building-safety risks. About 11 IF operators, many Thai-Chinese joint ventures, fear disruption. For a small contractor, builder or steel trader, this is a proposal, not a rule yet. Check the grade and origin of steel you buy for construction, and watch for quality standards on imports, which producers also want enforced equally.

Iran has threatened a military response to tougher US sanctions. Watch for possible knock-on effects on oil prices, shipping costs and the baht, but no action is needed yet from a typical Thai SME.

Government AI Passport keeps Thai user data in Thailand, ministry says Bangkok Post · Aug 22, 2026

The DES Ministry says data from the TH-AI Passport AI access scheme will be stored and processed in Thailand under the PDPA, with personal data masked before prompts go to AI providers abroad. Pre-registration opened 19 Aug via de.aipass.net, with the launch on 31 Aug. Registering uses Google, Microsoft or Apple accounts plus ThaiD or Tang Rat identity checks. New users start as beginners if they sign up after 30 Nov 2026. Relevant only if your business plans to use the government AI access scheme; otherwise it is background. Note the ministry admits no one can guarantee zero data leakage.

The US is temporarily loosening ground beef import quotas for 90 days, which may lower US beef prices and shift export flows. Thai beef and food exporters should watch it, but there is no action needed based on the headline alone.

Coalition rift rumours raise risk of a no-confidence fight and possible snap election Bangkok Post · Aug 22, 2026

Talk of a rebellion inside the ruling coalition is circulating ahead of an opposition no-confidence debate expected in the coming months. No deal is confirmed. Pheu Thai, a junior coalition partner, is the key swing bloc. If it defects, the government could lose its majority, leading to a reshuffle or House dissolution. For a small business, this is background risk only: political instability can delay policy and spending decisions, so watch for the debate date and avoid making decisions that depend on specific government measures until the outcome is clear.

SET-listed TSR must restate Q1 and Q2 2026 accounts after auditor withheld conclusion Prachachat · Aug 21, 2026

The SEC has ordered listed company TSR to publish restated Q1 2026 accounts quickly and to restate Q2 2026 by 21 September 2026. The auditor could not conclude on the vending machine count, so the figures are unverified. This is a single listed firm's governance issue, not a general rule change. Unless you supply or do business with TSR, no action is needed. It is a reminder to keep your own asset registers and stock counts documented and reconciled.

Finance ministry reopens Om Plus government bonds, 4 billion baht, from 4 Sep Prachachat · Aug 21, 2026

The Finance Ministry's second Om Plus retail bond issue is 4 billion baht, with the same terms as lot 1: 1.80% a year for 3 years and 2.80% for 10 years. Retail subscription runs through the Pao Tang wallet from 4 to 15 Sep (first-come, first-served, minimum 100 baht, max 1 million per purchase, 50 million per person). Bond Connect runs 7 to 9 Sep with small-lot allocation, minimum 1,000 baht, results on 10 Sep. Relevant if you hold spare cash and want a low-risk government savings option; the per-purchase cap was cut from 3 million to 1 million baht.

Thailand now charges import duty on low-value goods from the first baht, hitting cheap Chinese imports Prachachat · Aug 21, 2026

From 1 Jan 2026 Thai Customs charges import duty on foreign goods valued from 1 baht, on top of 7% VAT on items under 1,500 baht (since July 2024). Clothing faces up to 30%, bags 20%, other goods roughly 10-20%. Krungthai COMPASS estimates the measure cuts low-value imports by about 3.3 billion baht a year, but says it may not be enough against Chinese fashion, which still sells 52-58% below Thai-made clothing after tax. For SMEs, expect some relief on price pressure but plan to compete on quality, design and channels rather than price alone.

Lalamove riders take pay-cut complaint to the digital ministry Prachachat · Aug 21, 2026

About 200 Lalamove riders gathered at the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE) on 21 Aug, and 15 representatives filed a complaint over the platform's cut to per-trip rates and working conditions they call unfair. ETDA and a deputy permanent secretary received the complaint and held talks. It follows a strike and car-mob protest on 18 Aug. For a business that uses delivery platforms or hires drivers, this signals rising regulatory pressure on platform pay and conditions, but no rule change is announced yet.

US bond yields hit near 20-year highs as US debt passes $40 trillion The Standard Wealth · Aug 21, 2026

US 30-year Treasury yields hit their highest since 2007, and the Treasury's buyback measure only held for about one day. The article links this to higher US mortgage rates (6.67% on a 30-year loan, up from about 6% earlier this year) and to costlier car and business loans in the US. For a Thai SME this is mostly background: it matters if you export to or borrow in the US, or if oil stays above $93 Brent, which feeds fuel and inflation costs at home. No Thai rate or baht action is needed yet.

Nan river basin faces repeat heavy rain on 23-24 August, 9 districts on watch Prachachat · Aug 21, 2026

Floodwaters in Nan province are receding, but the Water Resources Agency warns of a new rain wave on 23-24 August in nine upper-basin districts (including Pua, Tha Wang Pha, Santi Suk, Mae Charim), with another rise expected 29 August to 1 September in the northern and northeastern uplands. Early Warning alerts issued 18-21 August totalled 110. For a Nan or northern business: check stock, equipment and vehicles in low-lying or hillside sites, and make sure you receive alerts via the official channels (mobile app, Cell Broadcast, village and district leaders).

Trat clears 600 rai of illegal durian orchards on reservoir land Bangkok Post · Aug 21, 2026

Authorities in Trat are preparing to clear more than 600 rai of durian plantations planted illegally on public land around the Huai Raeng reservoir. Four people have been arrested, about 20 encroachers were involved, and officials will seek approval to cut the trees. Officials are also tightening boundary maps and inspections on public land. For durian growers, the practical point is to check that any land you farm or lease has clear title or a valid permit, since planting on reservoir or state land can lead to loss of crops and prosecution.