Archive
August 15, 2026
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The state will not cancel or amend the 224,544-million-baht Don Mueang–Suvarnabhumi–U-Tapao high-speed rail contract, and CP's written request (dated 6 July 2026) to end it is stalled. The EEC board meeting has been postponed indefinitely, so no decision is expected soon. The Airport Rail Link operation by CP continues as normal until the MOU ends on 30 September. For a Thai SME, the practical impact is limited: expect delays in related eastern-corridor construction and subcontracting, not an immediate change in demand or costs.
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The BoT governor says it will step up supervision of non-bank lenders, payment, FX and AMC firms (over 3,000 licensed), moving from licensing to real inspection, with transaction reporting and caps to follow. BNPL rules are coming first, with clarity expected around October–November 2026. BNPL accounts grew to 4.91 million in 2024, and young, low-income users show the highest arrears. If your customers pay by instalment or you rely on non-bank credit or payment services, check your terms and expect tighter scrutiny and possibly new limits.
August 14, 2026
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Toyota and six Japanese carmakers are lobbying the government to equalise excise tax between locally built and imported EVs, mainly Chinese brands. Imported Chinese EVs currently pay about 8% excise, and the article says the Finance Ministry is moving to raise tax on imports, with a September target mentioned. Also flagged: the six Japanese makers are asking for a delay on the new hybrid tax. For SME owners in auto parts, dealerships, or EV-related trade, expect pricing and import-margin shifts; plan for possible changes to EV and hybrid pricing from around the third quarter rather than acting now.
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The Thai Meteorological Department forecasts heavy rain in places from 06:00 on 15 August to 06:00 the next day, with rain coverage of 40-60%. Heavy to very heavy rain is expected in Chanthaburi and Trat in the East, and flash floods and runoff are possible in the North, Northeast and East. Seas in the upper Andaman are 2-3 m, and small boats there should stay in port. If you run deliveries, outdoor work or a farm, plan for delays and check on stock and vehicles near low-lying or hillside areas.
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The PM has ordered Dopa to stop giving firearms as prizes to village and subdistrict chiefs. A new firearms-control law is being drafted, and the government says it will take in proposals and objections. Discussions with the Sports Authority and shooting sports groups are looking at how tighter rules could affect training, competitions, and transport of legally owned guns. For most small business owners this changes nothing now, but if you own, sell, or transport firearms or run a shooting range or related business, watch for the draft law and comment while the consultation is open.
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After copycat school threats (including a one-day closure in Loei), the Education Ministry is preparing a school safety bill for cabinet approval. Checks for weapons and people entering institutions are required for now, and measures will be stringent this month. No details on the bill's content or timing were given. If you run a school, tutoring centre, or supply or service business for schools, expect tighter entry checks and possible requirements for security equipment; watch for the bill's content before committing spending.
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Bangchak's 15 Aug pump prices: high-speed diesel 37.54 baht/litre, B20 biodiesel 32.54 baht (up 0.85 baht from the previous day), gasohol 95 at 36.84 and E20 at 31.84. Prices are reference only and exclude the Bangkok local land tax; tomorrow's prices take effect at 05:00. For fleet or delivery businesses, check fuel budgets and pump prices today, and compare B20 against standard diesel for vehicles that accept it.
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The central bank says it will step up supervision of non-bank lending and payment providers to ensure fair treatment of consumers and curb irregular transactions. It is also proposing risk-management rules for cash transactions of 5 million baht or more, with a public hearing already opened. For SMEs, the existing support is the 19 standardised banking fee items and the SME Credit Boost and SME Secured Plus loan programmes. If you borrow or take payments through non-bank providers, check their fees and terms, and expect more paperwork on large cash deals.
Your real translator for LINE and Discord.
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A White House report lists Thailand among more than 40 countries flagged for possible transshipment of Chinese goods to the US, and says the US will monitor them and may use the report in trade talks. No penalties have been announced. If you export to the US, keep clear rules-of-origin records and proof of Thai manufacturing. FTI says firms that declare Thai-made goods containing over 40% Chinese content would not be acceptable, so check your raw material sourcing now.
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The government plans to raise the foreign tourist fee from the proposed 300 baht to 450 baht (about US$15). Collection could start as early as April 2027, after the regulation is published in the Royal Gazette and enacted within 180 days. Airfare collection would start first; land and sea arrivals would follow about a year later. Hotels, tour operators and tourism-linked shops should factor a higher cost of travel for foreign guests into 2027 pricing and planning. The ministry says the fee should not hurt tourism sentiment. The timeline is still provisional.
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Apple sent new threat notifications to iPhone users in 110 countries, now shown on the lock screen as well as by email and iMessage. The alert means Apple's systems saw activity matching a targeted attack, not that the phone is already breached. Apple will never ask you to click links, install apps or profiles, or confirm your password through a message. Check the alert only via account.apple.com directly. Turning on Lockdown Mode is Apple's first recommendation, and do not factory-reset the phone if you get an alert, since the traces matter for investigation. Most users will never be targeted like this.
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Honda Thailand is lobbying with Japanese carmakers and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce for lower import duties on CBU cars (currently about 80%) and for a longer grace period on new hybrid excise rules. Four of the six Honda models made locally may not meet the new local-parts requirement, so without an extension their excise tax rises and prices go up. Honda plans 12,000 million baht of investment for two new hybrid models, with Prachinburi capacity rising to 150,000 units a year by 2029. For an SME, this is a policy watch item: car dealers, parts suppliers and fleet buyers should track the excise decision and the local-content rules, not act yet.
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AP Thailand, Sansiri and SC Asset plan 57 new projects in H2 2026 worth about 88,670 million baht combined, even though they admit the market is under pressure from slow growth and high household debt. AP raised its full-year launch plan to 46 projects; Sansiri reports 26,000 million baht of backlog to transfer, with about 40% expected to be recognised this year. Sansiri says the transfer-fee and mortgage-fee cut for homes up to 7 million baht and the BOT holding its policy rate are supporting buyers. For a building, materials, or interior supplier, the big developers are still launching, so pipeline demand exists, but focus on affordable, landed and East-corridor or provincial projects. Expect price pressure and slower payments.
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From 10am on Friday 28 August 2026, the Department of Highways opens the M82 elevated motorway from Bang Khun Thian to Ban Phaeo (about 25 km) on a free trial for two years. Cars are capped at 80 km/h and trucks and buses at 65 km/h. Motorcycles, bicycles, tricycles and pedestrians are not allowed on the elevated section; Phetkasem (Rama 2) below stays open. Four entry/exit points are open (Phan Thai Norasing, Mahachai 1 and 2, Ban Phaeo); Samut Sakhon 1 and 2 are not yet open. Tolls and full service are not expected until 2029. For delivery and transport operators on the route to Samut Songkhram, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan, this may cut travel time, but plan routes and driver speed limits for the trial period.
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The Tourism and Sports Ministry has settled on a 450 baht per-trip levy on foreign tourists (TTF, "ground-stepping fee"). Phase one covers air arrivals only; land and sea crossings follow one year later. It still needs a 30-day public consultation, a National Tourism Policy Committee meeting, Cabinet approval and Royal Gazette publication, then starts 180 days after gazetting, at the earliest around April 2027. The levy is up from the 300 baht air / 150 baht land rate Cabinet approved in February 2023, and the ministry has spent 3-4 years on it without success. For a tourism-facing SME, this is a future cost to plan for, not a change to make now. Watch for the Gazette notice.
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Deputy PM Ekniti says actual investment approved through the BOI rose 250 billion baht (+31%) in Q2 2026 and 500+ billion baht in H1, led by smart electronics, photonics, sensors and PCBs. Officials credit the Thailand FastPass scheme and expect private investment to grow double digits this year. Government expects 500-600k jobs in new industries. For an SME, the practical signal is demand in electronics supply chains (parts, packaging, logistics, services around industrial estates) and possible hiring competition in the regions where these investors locate. The article gives no SME-specific measures, and the economy is slowing in Q2 with weaker tourism and consumption, so plan cash flow conservatively.
Together GoWeGo! Ferry tickets in Thailand.
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The Transport Ministry is targeting 1 January 2027 for a shared fare on Bangkok-area rail lines in the common ticket system: an entry fee of up to 17 baht and a total cap of 45 baht per trip, with no repeat entry fee when switching lines. The plan is still pending: 10 sub-regulations are approved in principle, the central revenue clearing house rules and the fare split with operators (MRTA, SRT, BMA) are still being negotiated, and connecting-trip rules are not final. For a Thai SME, this mainly matters if you rely on staff or customers commuting across several lines. Watch for the final announcement before changing any commuting allowance or delivery and staff-travel costs.
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The Interior Ministry is preparing two projects under an emergency decree loan of about 69 billion baht: rooftop solar support of up to 50,000 baht per household for roughly 1 million homes (about 50 billion baht), and a smart grid upgrade by the PEA and MEA (about 19 billion baht, including smart meters). Both still need approval from a screening committee and the cabinet, and details and amounts may change. For a business, this is a possible opportunity for solar installers and electrical contractors, and a reason to watch for the subsidy rules before buying or quoting. Nothing is open for applications yet.
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The White House published a report on 13 Aug 2026 naming Thailand as a Tier 2 country in a Chinese transshipment network, alongside Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Turkey. The report sets no new policy, but US customs (CBP) is getting more tools, including AI that checks container markings and X-rays against declared goods. If you export to the US or supply exporters, expect more scrutiny of origin paperwork and any China-linked inputs. Keep certificates of origin and supplier records in order.
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The SEC reports scam-investment reports up over 150% in January–June 2026, and 60,968 digital-asset mule accounts suspended by end-June (up 27.83% from end-2025). Civil fines of 662.70 million baht were agreed with 29 offenders. For a Thai SME, the practical point is to watch for fake investment offers, impersonation of SEC or licensed platforms, and suspicious transfers into business or personal accounts. Staff who handle payments or receive money from customers should be briefed on these scam patterns.
