Archive
August 7, 2026
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The Energy Ministry (7 Aug 2026) is keeping retail LPG at 423 baht per 15 kg tank by raising the state subsidy from 7.2209 to 9.8642 baht/kg, even though the oil fuel fund is 71,826 million baht in deficit, up about 2,044 million in a week. Global prices remain volatile due to uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz. For a Thai SME, the price is frozen for now, but the fund's growing debt means a future price rise or fuel-related cost change is possible. Plan for cost volatility, and keep an eye on the ministry's weekly fund updates.
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A student opened fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai on Friday morning, killing two teachers and injuring at least 15 others before dying of self-inflicted wounds. Authorities have cordoned the campus and asked the public not to livestream or go near the area. No change to costs, rules or trade follows for Thai SMEs; if you operate near the school, expect temporary road closures and avoid the area while police work.
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Deputy PM Supachai Suthammaphan says the proposed Thai Tiew Thai Plus tourism campaign, which the tourism minister wants to fund with 1.75-2 billion baht from the emergency loan decree, has not been approved. She is consulting Finance Minister Ekniti first, and the decision will wait for the outcome of the Thai Chuay Thai Plus scheme. No funding source or launch date has been set, so for now do not plan revenue around it. Operators should watch for a cabinet decision, which would bring tourism-season promotions to the year-end and early-year period.
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Japan's central bank bought yen at a record daily pace in April as pressure on the currency continued. No article text was available, so this is based on the headline only. For a Thai SME, the main link is regional currency volatility, which can affect import costs and export pricing if the baht moves with it.
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PDPC is gathering evidence within 30 days on government agencies whose weak passwords and access controls exposed citizens' personal data, and may pursue administrative and criminal action. Experts say weak or guessable passwords and poorly managed outsourced contractors are the main causes. For a Thai business that handles customer personal data or builds software for clients, this signals stricter expectations: use strong, unique passwords with access limits, and put PDPA data-processing terms in vendor contracts, since the law can reach subcontractors.
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Brent rose to $82.49 and West Texas to $77.29 a barrel on 6 Aug 2026, up $3.04 and $2.07, after Iran's parliamentary committee began considering a draft law barring US, Israeli and "hostile" ships from the Strait of Hormuz, with fines up to 20% of cargo value. Gulf crude exports remain about 40% below pre-war levels, and Saudi exports from Yanbu have slowed. For a Thai SME, expect pressure on diesel and fuel costs, transport and freight surcharges, and plastic and chemical input prices. Review fuel budgets and supplier price-adjustment clauses this month.
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World gold fell slightly to about $4,240.75 an ounce after hitting a new high near $4,300. Traders are watching tonight's US Nonfarm payrolls report and the Strait of Hormuz situation, which Iran is considering restricting for US, Israeli and hostile-country ships. Oil prices are up, the dollar is firmer and US bond yields rose, which pressures gold. For a Thai shop or jewellery business, this is a short-term price swing to watch, not a reason to change stock or pricing plans today. Gold prices in Thailand move with world prices, so check your daily gold rate before buying or selling stock.
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Asian shares paused ahead of US jobs data while oil extended gains on Mideast risk, per the headline only. For a Thai SME, watch fuel and diesel costs for deliveries and transport in the coming weeks. Full article text was not available, so details are unconfirmed.
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Gold jewellery sells at 67,550 baht per baht-weight and buys back at 65,218.32 baht, as of 09.02 on 7 Aug 2026, unchanged from the prior close. Bar gold buys at 66,550 and sells at 66,750. The spot price is US$4,260 per ounce. The buy-sell spread on jewellery is about 2,330 baht, so check the buy-back price before you stock or price gold-linked goods.
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Google is starting to shut down Google Assistant on phones, Wear OS watches, Android Auto cars and Gemini-linked wireless earbuds on 4 September 2026, rolling out over several weeks. Users cannot switch back from Gemini afterwards. Google Home speakers and Google TV are not affected yet. If your staff use Assistant for phone or car tasks, or your shop uses Google Home devices, check that Gemini works for those jobs before the switch.
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The baht opened at 33.15 per US dollar on 7 Aug 2026, down from 33.06 the previous close, with a expected 24-hour range of 33.00-33.30 (TTB). Drivers: higher oil prices after Iran reportedly considered a bill to bar US and Israeli ships from Hormuz, and renewed expectations of a Fed rate hike. Foreign investors bought a net 2,061.8 million baht of Thai stocks and 8,136 million baht of Thai bonds the previous day. For a business that imports inputs or pays dollar-linked costs, a weaker baht and fuel price rise raise costs; exporters get slightly more baht per dollar. Check dollar-denominated payments and pricing against this range.
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The Meteorological Department forecasts scattered-to-heavy rain across most regions today, with 70% thunderstorm coverage in Bangkok and the north and north-east, and very heavy rain in parts of Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Nong Khai, Udon Thani and Chanthaburi. Flash floods and landslides are possible near streams and low-lying areas. For a Thai SME: plan deliveries and staff travel around the afternoon storms, move stock off low floors, and check drainage at premises. Small boats should not leave shore in the upper Andaman and upper Gulf, and waves of 2-3 m or more are forecast at sea.
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The Tourism Ministry and TAT are moving from counting arrivals to growing spending per trip, targeting higher-spending, longer-staying visitors. Domestic trips in the first half of 2026 averaged 4,176 baht per person per trip. Foreign arrivals from long-haul markets were down (Russia -1.8%, US -1%, UK -4.8%, Germany -3.8%), while China (+13.8%) and Korea were up. Headwinds named: Middle East conflict (Middle East arrivals -32%), high jet fuel costs, a strong baht making Thailand feel expensive, and price-sensitive travellers booking later. For a small operator, this points to pricing and packaging for quality guests rather than chasing volume, and watching China and Asian markets closely.
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Bangchak pump prices on 7 Aug 2026: B20 diesel 31.69 baht/litre (unchanged), high-speed diesel S 36.69, gasohol 95 35.99, gasohol 91 35.62, E20 30.99, E85 26.93. Prices exclude the Bangkok local-area tax and take effect from 05:00 the next day. Check your own station before budgeting fuel costs for delivery vehicles or generators.
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The Department of Foreign Trade says 2,120 Thai product lines, worth 61.58% of Thai exports to the US (US$56.2bn of US$91.3bn), are exempt from the Section 301 tariff. About 28% of exports still face the 12.5% rate plus MFN, and some of that is already under Section 232. Rice, tuna, shrimp, pet food, sauces and silver or metal jewellery are among the exposed items. Only 48 lines face a 2.5-point disadvantage against rivals, mainly diamonds, jewellery and orchids. If you export to the US, check your HS codes against the exemption list and price exposed lines before quoting. Low-margin exporters in the 48 lines should watch closely.
August 6, 2026
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The baht rallied to about 33 per dollar this week on US-Japan yen intervention, but Standard Chartered expects it to stay weak and end 2026 near 32.50. Exporters and tourism-linked businesses may gain some price competitiveness, though the bank says that will not offset weak domestic demand. Q2 growth is seen below 2%, with a rebound in Q3 from government stimulus. Foreign tourist arrivals are down 3% year-on-year and hotel occupancy is 69%, with some hotels cutting room rates. Consider pricing, import cost and cash-flow plans on a weaker baht, and don't count on a sustained tourism pickup in the second half.
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Thailand and Myanmar agreed to remove regulatory obstacles to trade through the reopened Second Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Bridge (Mae Sot–Myawaddy), consider reopening more border crossings, and convene a Joint Trade Committee to push bilateral trade toward US$12 billion from US$7.4 billion now. Myanmar invited Thai investors into agriculture, livestock, rubber, furniture, energy and healthcare, and cited kyat-baht direct payment mechanisms. For border-area SMEs, this is a signal to watch for rule changes on crossings, but no concrete new rules or dates were announced yet.
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An exporters' association head says El Niño could cut rice yields in major producing countries and lift Thai export prices, and that Thailand could reach its 7 million tonne export goal this year. But the first half of 2026 saw exports fall 18.2% to 3.28 million tonnes and value down 20.5%. Middle East shipments (Iraq down to about 90,000 tonnes) are hurt by the conflict and higher Turkey routing costs. Treat the price upside as an outlook, not a fact. Watch Malaysia, the Philippines and South Africa, which are growing, and plan for weaker China and US volumes.
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Thailand and Myanmar signed three MoUs on labour, transboundary water quality and space technology. The talks also covered the reopened Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge (Mae Sot–Myawaddy), removing regulatory barriers to border trade, and a Joint Trade Committee meeting in Thailand later this year. For a border-trade or migrant-labour business, this is a signal to watch, not a change to act on yet: no specific tariff, permit or payment rule is named in the article. Track the JTC meeting and any bilateral payment mechanism announcement.
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The US is taking trade measures to counter China in solar polysilicon and chips, per the headline only (article text unavailable). Thai SMEs are unlikely to need action now, but watch for knock-on effects on solar equipment prices or electronics supply chains.
