Archive
August 6, 2026
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Zbtlink has suspended sales of routers found to contain a backdoor. If your shop or office uses these devices, check the brand and firmware and consider replacing them.
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DeepSeek emailed customers that API prices will rise significantly, with no date given. Current prices are very low after a May cut (V4 Pro at $0.435 input / $0.87 output per million tokens), and cached input is priced at about a tenth of other providers. If your business uses DeepSeek's API for chatbots, document handling or agent-style workflows, review your AI costs now and budget for higher rates. Prepaid balances can be refunded on request. Note that DeepSeek's terms let it train on data even for paid API use, so avoid sending confidential customer data.
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Shopee raised sale transaction fees from 4 Aug 2026 (Mall top rate 19.26% incl. VAT, Non-Mall top rate 16.05%). FMCG on Shopee Mall went from 17.12% to 19.26%; Non-Mall FMCG from 13.91% to 16.05%. Lazada changed marketplace fees from 1 Aug 2026: general consumer goods 15%, LazMall general goods 12-17.5%, digital vouchers up to 14.5% on LazMall, and premium package 8%. Recheck your margins and product pricing on both platforms now, since fees rose again after increases in April and June (Shopee) and May (Lazada). Shopee's small-seller fee discounts and Ads credits may offset part of the increase; check whether you qualify.
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CAAT's new rule on checked-bag searches takes effect 16 October 2026. Bags are opened without the owner present only when X-ray flags a suspicious object. Searches are recorded and passengers are notified afterwards. For Thai SMEs that ship goods or travel for work: pack samples and products so they can be inspected quickly, check the prohibited-items list before flying, and consider TSA-approved locks. Complaints can go through the airline or complaint.caat.or.th.
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The baht strengthened to its highest in six weeks, trading around 33.02-33.13 per dollar on 6 August, after US-Japan yen intervention weakened the dollar and gold rose to about $4,300 an ounce. Standard Chartered expects 32.50 by end-2026, then 33.50 at end-2027. For exporters, a stronger baht cuts the baht value of dollar earnings, so re-check pricing and hedge forward receipts. For importers, cheaper dollar costs help. Tourism-linked firms should note SCB's view that foreign arrivals are recovering more slowly than expected, down about 3% year to date, with hotels cutting room rates.
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Thailand proposed reconvening the Thai-Myanmar Joint Trade Commission (JTC), first in over 10 years, within 2026, and a US$12 billion bilateral trade target by 2032. Thailand is asking Myanmar to ease Import Licensing for production inputs such as machinery, construction materials and cement, and to allow baht for investment transactions. Trade was US$7.39 billion in 2025 and rose only 0.21% in the first half of 2026. These are proposals only; nothing changes for importers yet, but exporters to Myanmar and cement or machinery traders should watch the JTC meeting and any licence changes.
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Thailand proposed an 8th Joint Trade Commission meeting with Myanmar within 2026, the first in over 10 years, and asked Myanmar to ease Import Licensing for machinery, construction materials and cement. Thailand also asked Myanmar to allow baht for investment transactions, not just goods trade. Target: US$12bn bilateral trade by 2032, versus US$7.39bn in 2025. Trade in H1 2026 rose only 0.21% year on year. These are proposals, not yet rules. If you export to or source from Myanmar, watch for licence changes and the baht-settlement talks, but do not change plans yet.
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BOI has approved over 1.6 trillion baht of data-centre projects since 2024. CIMB says the spending flows to power and energy systems (25-35%), cooling and mechanical systems (20-30%), land and site development (5-15%), civil works and buildings (15-20%), and project services, fire safety, building management, security and IT equipment. Early GDP effect will be small because much of the equipment is imported. For a Thai SME, the opportunity is in local supply chains: electrical, cooling, construction and maintenance services. CIMB notes that skills upgrades and local content are needed to capture it.
Your real translator for LINE and Discord.
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Thailand is pushing a Joint Trade Commission meeting with Myanmar (the first in over 10 years) with a target of US$12 billion in two-way trade by 2032, against about US$7.4 billion now. Proposals on the table: easing Myanmar's import licensing, allowing baht for investment payments beyond goods trade, opening more border crossings, and reviving the Myawaddy-Mae Sot and Tachileik border trade and the Dawei deep-sea port project. Nothing is binding yet. For border-trading SMEs in Tak, Chiang Rai or Mae Sot, watch for licence rules and baht settlement terms before committing to Myanmar orders or investment.
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The Finance Ministry plans the next Aom Plus retail government bond sale via the SBM wallet on 4-15 September and via Bond Connect on 7-9 September. The first round raised 4,000 million baht, with 22,703 allocations and about 8x oversubscription on Bond Connect. The ministry may raise the amount and shift more to Small Lot First allocation for small investors. Official size and interest rate will be announced later. For a business owner, this is a savings option for surplus cash, not a business cost or tax change; rates and sizes are not yet confirmed.
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The Finance Minister says the Thai Teaw Thai Plus tourism scheme (1,750m baht: 1,500m hotel discounts up to 3,000 baht per right, 250m vouchers of 500 baht) may be funded from the 400bn baht emergency loan decree, but only if it targets relief for small operators. The Tourism Ministry is still setting conditions. The voucher now covers spa and massage as well as food, and each person is capped at 5 rights, first come first served. The app will be Krungthai's Paotang. Hotels and small tourism operators should watch the conditions before they plan. The Ministry has not yet confirmed whether a phase 2 of Thai Chuay Thai Plus will follow.
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The Local Civil Service Committee (ก.กลาง) adopted the Department of Local Administration's ruling against 5,925 people who cheated in local civil service exams. A new list of passers is due 7 August, and those who cheated are to be referred to provinces, with removal by local bodies to be finished by 31 August. 97 people with adjusted scores stay on the list pending investigation. For a Thai SME this matters mainly if you deal with local government offices or hire from that pool: some staff in those offices may change, and the list of approved appointees is being reset.
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Commerce Minister Supajee says the 'Thai Teaw Thai Plus' tourism subsidy, modelled loosely on the Half-Half travel scheme, has not yet reached cabinet and may not in August. Timing depends on the final budget, which is still unclear, and the design is meant to reach small operators widely rather than a few groups. Do not count on it for Q4 cash flow yet. Meanwhile, Thailand's US trade talks (Section 301 tariffs) resume at technical level at the end of this month. About 72% of Thai exports to the US are now tariff-exempt, and 28% still pay duty. Keep tourism plans on current demand, and watch for updates.
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Former Department of Local Administration director-general Theerut Suphawiboonphol faces six charges, including malfeasance and forging official documents, over alleged fraud in a local government recruitment exam. Thirteen suspects are being processed; the case file is expected to go to the NACC by Aug 12, and Amlo will review suspects' finances for unexplained wealth. For a small business owner, this is background: no change to your permits, taxes or costs. It may matter only if you deal with local government procurement or recruitment.
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Global DRAM and NAND chip supply is tight because makers are shifting capacity to AI data centres. Deloitte expects server memory costs to roughly double in Q1 2026 and possibly quadruple across the year, with new capacity not arriving until about 2029-2030. RAM kits that cost about 3,000-4,000 baht in late 2025 were near 15,000 baht by early August 2026. Micron says it can meet only 55-60% of key customer demand. For a Thai shop or service business, expect higher costs for computers, phones, storage and gaming hardware you buy or resell, so review purchase prices, supplier quotes and any stock or quotes that depend on memory-heavy devices.
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Cabinet approved a 7.2bn baht irrigation dam in Chanthaburi (99.5m cubic metres, 87,700 rai served), run by the Royal Irrigation Department over 7 years (FY2027-2033). It is pitched as water security for the EEC, including future data centre demand. Conservation groups, led by the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation, oppose it over overlap with Khao Sip Ha Chan National Park and the EHIA's accuracy, and have filed a lawsuit at the Administrative Court. For an SME, this is a long-horizon infrastructure item: watch water supply for the eastern industrial zone and possible construction-related demand, but no action is needed now.
Together GoWeGo! Ferry tickets in Thailand.
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University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce survey (1,432 people, 27 July to 3 August 2026) forecasts Mother's Day spending of about 11,139.54 million baht, up just 0.7%. 40.9% will buy no gift at all (up from 29%), and 69.6% plan to skip travel. Online gift buying rose to 20.7% from 4.3%. Promotions (45.3%) and product quality (36.7%) drive gift choices. Plan for modest, promotion-led demand: keep offers simple and price-focused, and expect lower provincial trip and gift volumes this season.
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The UTCC survey of 641 Thai SMEs (13-22 July 2026) puts the Q2 competitiveness index at 45.1, down 0.8 from Q1 and below 50 on every component, meaning conditions are deteriorating. Total debt scored lowest (37.5), followed by costs and expenses (40.9). Micro firms are the weakest at 38.5 overall, with order volume at 31.3. Mid-sized firms scored 48.2. If you run a Micro business, plan for tighter orders and debt pressure: review your cost base and loan repayment schedule now. The survey found 31.1% of firms reported lower sales versus a year earlier.
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The cabinet approved a draft PM's Office regulation creating a national Data Center policy committee. BOI will screen Data Center projects on four fronts: local jobs and technology transfer, energy readiness, water, and zoning. Data Center users will face higher electricity rates than other groups, plus bank guarantees for power connections. BOI also wants more local sourcing of equipment and wants to link SMEs into supply chains. Of the 42 projects approved in 2024-2026, 15 are Thai-owned. No new Data Center promotion applications have come in since April 2026. For most SMEs this is background, but if you supply electrical, cooling, or industrial equipment or services, the local-sourcing push is worth tracking.
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Labour Minister Julapun says a new Thai-Myanmar labour MOU will go to cabinet this August, before the end of the month. Key points: the registration window for Myanmar workers extends to 5 years, and non-agriculture workers can hold contracts of up to 2 years (some contracts may be shorter, such as 1 year). Workers not yet registered, and those whose work permits are expiring, will get another chance to register legally. The government also plans to bring Myanmar workers into the social security system, and to create a scheme for self-employed workers. If you employ Myanmar staff, check which registrations and permits are expiring and plan re-registration. The details are not final until cabinet approves.
