Archive

Mekong flood risk for Isan's river provinces, 10-12 August: rain above 90 mm forecast in Bueng Kan, Ubon Ratchathani and Nakhon Phanom Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

Rain of more than 90 mm is forecast for 10-12 August in parts of Bueng Kan, Ubon Ratchathani and Nakhon Phanom, and the Mekong is rising after heavy rain in Myanmar and Laos. Releases from the Xayaburi dam reached 14,949 m³/s, and authorities are ready to close floodgates and run pumps if water backs up into farmland and communities. If you run a business or farm on low ground along the Mekong or in these districts, move stock, equipment and vehicles to higher ground now, and check the Royal Irrigation Department and local warnings. Rain is expected to ease from 12-15 August, though heavy showers remain possible in some areas.

SME loans still shrinking in 2026 as hire-purchase and credit cards keep falling; big-company lending carries bank growth Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

KResearch expects Thai bank lending to grow only about 0.5% YoY in 2026, with SME lending down about 4.5% and retail lending down about 1.5%. Big-company lending (up about 5%) is doing the lifting. Hire-purchase is forecast to fall about 7.2% and credit cards about 4%, while car-title loans keep growing. Expect tighter credit for SMEs and plan working capital from internal cash flow or alternatives. Car owners can compare title-loan rates: TTB is launching a no-transfer car-title loan with risk-based pricing, starting at 11.11% p.a., and the article notes typical title-loan rates of 20-21% p.a.

EV transition loan scheme still not before the committee; proposals due by September Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

The Permanent Secretary for Finance says the EV transition projects funded by the emergency energy-transition loan decree have not yet reached the screening committee. Ministries are still preparing, and proposals are expected by September, giving projects one year to run. Incentives will differ by vehicle type, with motorcycles, taxis, trucks and buses treated separately, not by price alone. For a business tied to vehicles or EV charging, this is a timing signal: no funding decision is near, so do not plan around it yet, but watch for the September proposals.

Thai exporters face possible extra US tariff on top of 12.5% if Excess Capacity ruling lands in August Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

The Bank of Thailand says the US Section 301 tariff is still under watch. Thailand currently faces 12.5% on goods tied to forced labour, close to the 10% most others get. The key risk is an August Excess Capacity ruling that could add a further tariff on Thailand, and the amount is not yet known. Exporters should model a higher US tariff scenario in Q3 pricing and orders. Also note: Q2 GDP is due 17 August, and the BoT expects 2026 inflation slightly below forecast, though Hormuz supply risk and baht volatility remain.

Police crackdown on foreign property nominee schemes is spreading to Hua Hin, so check any land-linked deals and shareholder setups Bangkok Post · Aug 10, 2026

Police arrested 13 foreigners on Monday at a Hua Hin pool-villa estate for using Thai nominee shareholders to hold land. It is the sixth phase of a nationwide crackdown that has inspected 233 properties and approved 133 arrest warrants. Thai nominees were also summoned. If your business lends to, leases to, or takes Thai shareholders for foreign clients, or holds land through a company, review those arrangements with a lawyer now.

Finance Ministry plans 200bn baht loan for EV switch of taxis, vans and buses, details still pending Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

The Finance Ministry is planning to use part of the 400bn baht clean-energy loan decree (200bn baht portion) to convert public transport to EVs, starting with taxis, vans, buses and provincial public buses. Old vehicles must be deregistered and scrapped via private recyclers; B20 biodiesel is also under consideration. No budget breakdown or start date yet. The existing EV 3.5 subsidy of about 50,000 baht per vehicle remains. If you run a taxi, van or bus business, watch for the scheme details from the Transport Ministry; for others, no action is needed now.

Kubota sales dip as farmers repair instead of buying, signalling tighter farm spending Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

Kubota says first-half new farm machinery sales fell for the first time in several years, while service jobs rose about 6% as farmers repair and extend machine life instead of buying. Average repair spend fell about 3% as farmers fix only essentials to protect cash flow. For a Thai SME serving farmers or running machinery-dependent work, expect tighter spending and more repair-first decisions. Kubota estimates a harvester idle for one day can cost the operator roughly 10,000-20,000 baht in lost income.

US Section 301 tariff puts Thai shrimp at a price disadvantage as Thai tuna holds up Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

The US has added a 12.5% import tariff on Thai goods under Section 301 over forced labour. Ecuador and Indonesia pay 10%, so Thai shrimp faces a price gap in the US, where Thailand holds only 4.53% share versus India's 36.15%. Thai tuna (29.73% US share, US$574m) is expected to be less affected. Shrimp exporters should review cost structure and pricing for US buyers now. The Department of Fisheries plans five measures on labour and supply-chain controls, including a committee to set standards for imports at risk of forced labour.

Small hotels may get a domestic-travel subsidy from October, but terms are not yet set Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

The tourism ministry is proposing "Thai Teiow Thai Plus", a domestic travel subsidy aimed at small hotels, with a start targeted for October and a 3-month initial period. Under discussion: a flat subsidy per room night (e.g. 2,000 or 3,000 baht per person), payment via the Krungthai "Pao Tang" app, and only for properly registered hotels. Funding source, conditions and the app back-end are not settled; the ministry expects details within a week or two. Hotels should prepare registration papers and avoid raising room rates, since the scheme is designed to stop price hikes. Timing may shift if the programme lands in high season.

Myanmar import licence snag stays on the table, JTC talks due late this year Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

Thai Department of Foreign Trade is watching Myanmar's economic direction after its 100-day government review (31 July 2026). Myanmar plans to push local-currency settlement and more domestic raw-material processing. Thai exporters have faced Import License obstacles since August 2025, and Thailand will raise them at the JTC meeting later this year. Myanmar trade totalled 244,051 million baht in 2025 (exports 146,747m, imports 97,304m), but border trade fell 7.4%. If you export to or import from Myanmar, keep records of licence delays and plan for the timing; no immediate rule change is announced.

Thai trade with FTA partners jumped 21.8% in the first half of 2026, but exports grew only 12.6% Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

Trade with 18 FTA partners reached US$243.7bn in H1 2026, up 21.8%, with China still the top partner at US$91.5bn. Exports to FTA partners rose 12.6% while imports rose 30%, and over 75% of imports are raw materials, intermediate goods and capital goods. Fastest-growing export markets were Singapore (+74%), Australia (+43.9%) and Laos (+36.4%); fresh and processed fruit (+16.8%), gems and jewellery (+26%) and electronic circuits (+20.6%) led sector growth. For SMEs, this signals where export demand is growing, and that import-side costs for inputs like steel and chemicals are rising. The Department of Trade Negotiations plans to push the Thai-EU, Thai-Korea and ASEAN-Canada FTA talks in the second half of the year.

Government orders MFA login upgrade for 35,000 private systems, so check your logins Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

The Digital Economy ministry will take a cabinet resolution proposing that government agencies reset logins and add multi-factor authentication (MFA) to online systems. The minister said about 35,000 private-sector systems are also linked to the roughly 200 million leaked Thai logins, but the article does not state a deadline or specific obligations for private firms. Practical step: turn on MFA for your business email, banking and government portal accounts, change shared passwords, and close old systems you no longer use. Watch for the cabinet decision and any rules that follow.

Countries worldwide are banning children from social media, Thailand's draft rules are one to watch Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

Over 20 countries have passed or are moving toward age limits on social media for under-16s, including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, France and the UK. Vietnam has a draft decree requiring parents to register children's accounts and platforms to verify ages. For a Thai business, this mainly matters if you sell to children or run a kids' brand, app or content channel, or market through social platforms that may need age checks. No action is needed yet; watch for a Thai rule following the same path.

Thai border closure with Cambodia is pushing cargo to Sihanoukville port, lifting its profits while Japanese firms complain about fees Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

The Cambodian port of Sihanoukville reported Q1 2026 container volume up about 40% year on year and net profit up nearly sixfold to about 505 million baht, as land crossings with Thailand stay closed. Japanese firms say its fees are high and want them cut. For a Thai SME, the land route to Cambodia remains shut with no reopening date, so any trade still moving through Cambodia is taking longer and costing more via detours. Check your logistics costs if you ship to or through Cambodia. No action is needed beyond that.

Thailand's PDP 2026 power plan is still unfinished, and renewables and SMR targets are being raised Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

Thailand's draft power development plan (PDP 2026) is still not finalised. The column says the plan now runs to 2050 instead of 2037, and proposes raising renewables from about 20% (around 13,000 MW) to 50% mid-term and 70% by 2050, plus SMR capacity from 600 MW to 2,400 MW starting 2037. Renewables are not yet settled, and the column notes solar needs roughly 8-10 rai per MW and that intermittency will require batteries and smart grids. For a small business, electricity prices and supply reliability may shift in the long run, but nothing here changes near-term costs or decisions. Watch for the final PDP and its tariff effects.

PM orders tighter firearm carry rules after school shooting; new law drafting underway Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

After a shooting at a school, the PM met security agencies and ordered stricter control of firearm possession and carrying, with more checkpoints and arrests. He said the last carry permit was issued three years ago and carrying without a permit is illegal, including for self-defence. Deputy PM Pakorn Nilprapunt is drafting amendments or a new law. The article gives no specific rule changes, dates or penalties, so for a shop owner the practical point is simply: do not carry a firearm, and expect more checkpoints and possible new rules later.

Crude oil prices rise as Hormuz talks stay uncertain; Thai fuel costs may follow Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

On 7 Aug 2026 Brent rose to US$83.55 a barrel (+1.06) and WTI to US$78.18 (+0.89), driven by uncertainty over Iran-US talks on Hormuz shipping. Iran is considering a ban on US and Israeli ships and a 5-7% shipping fee; industry sources doubt it can be enforced given sanctions and insurance rules. A drone attack disrupted the CPC pipeline (about 2% of world supply), but Ukraine reportedly agreed not to hit non-Russian tankers. Weak US jobs data may cut expected Fed rate hikes. For a Thai SME: watch diesel and fuel surcharges and freight costs over the coming months, but no immediate action is required.

AI token prices are falling, so set a monthly cap on usage before costs run away Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

AI providers are cutting token prices: OpenAI reportedly cut GPT-5.6 by up to 80%, and Microsoft Thailand expects prices to keep falling. Hyperscalers like AWS also say a Thai data centre cut customer costs by about 10-15%. The article's warning is that usage can still blow the budget: one Uber case used up its full-year AI budget in four months because no token cap was set. For a Thai SME using AI tools, set a monthly spending cap, choose flat-rate subscriptions for routine work, pay per token only for API tasks, and use cheaper models for simple jobs.

Government lets state banks use lower fund contributions to fund SME loans, with BAY-backed guarantees Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

Finance Minister Ekniti says state banks will cut their contributions to the specialised financial institutions development fund (the FIDF equivalent), freeing liquidity for SME programmes. The money goes to "SME Credit Boost" and "Pid Nee Wai Pai Tor Dai" (early debt clearance), run in parallel with commercial banks. SME Credit Boost loans are already starting to flow, and Thai Guarantee Agency (SME Bank's credit guarantee arm, BSY) will guarantee loans to strengthen bank lending. No amount or start date has been set yet; the ministry will first estimate how much is freed up. Action for now: check whether your existing loans qualify for the debt-clearing programme and ask your bank about SME Credit Boost, but expect details later.

Baht opens stronger at 33.02 per dollar on weaker US jobs data Prachachat · Aug 10, 2026

The baht opened at 33.02 per dollar on 10 Aug 2026, up from 33.08 at Friday's close. The dollar weakened after US July payrolls fell by 23,000, which cut expectations of a Fed rate hike. Markets put a 56% chance on the Fed holding rates in September, up from 45%. The expected 24-hour range is 32.80-33.20. Exporters earning dollars should expect less baht per dollar, and importers paying in dollars may benefit. Watch US CPI on 12 Aug and PPI on 13 Aug, which could move the baht again. Foreign investors sold Thai stocks (3.29bn baht) and Thai bonds (4.28bn baht) last Friday.