Archive

Eastern floods hit durian orchards for years; farmers without a green registration book may struggle to get aid Prachachat · Oct 10, 2026

Floods in Eastern Thailand (Rayong, Chanthaburi) have damaged over 20,000 rai of durian in Rayong alone. Damaged trees may die over several years, and root damage will hit next season's yield. Fewer than half of affected Rayong orchards were in the farmer registry (green book), which officials use to verify aid. Orchard owners should check their registration and update land-use records now, and keep evidence of farming activity. Replanting 4-6 year-old trees is costly, so plan cash flow for lost output.

Bangkok flooding narrows to six eastern districts; 40–50 mm rain forecast until 4 a.m. tomorrow Prachachat · Oct 10, 2026

Flooding in Bangkok has eased after two days without rain, but 97 communities in six eastern districts (Min Buri, Nong Chok, Prawet, Saphan Sung, Lat Krabang, Bueng Kum) remain flooded, mostly along canals. Another 40–50 mm of rain is forecast from 4 p.m. today until 4 a.m. tomorrow. If your premises or deliveries are in the east, plan for flooded access roads, stock on higher shelves, and monitoring of drain levels. The governor says future residential-project approvals will weigh flood risk, and the city will add pumps.

Bill to route sin-tax top-ups through the budget, not straight to health and media funds Prachachat · Oct 10, 2026

A Bhumjaithai MP has proposed amending four laws, including those for the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (สสส.), Thai PBS, the elderly fund and sports fund. The change would stop the extra excise-tax earmarks on alcohol and tobacco being paid straight to these bodies and instead allocate them through the annual budget. The government says it is about transparency; critics question political control. The bill is only proposed, not passed. For a Thai SME, it matters mainly if you supply or receive funding from these funds (health promotion grants, media or sports programmes, elderly-care projects). Watch for the budget process rather than acting now.

SCB EIC expects slow property recovery in 2026–2027 as buyers stay cautious and banks keep lending tight The Standard Wealth · Oct 10, 2026

SCB EIC forecasts the Thai property market to stay flat or grow only slightly in 2026–2027, with slow recovery. Household debt, tighter bank lending, and high prices are holding back middle- and lower-income buyers, while high-end demand is also slowing. Used homes are gaining share because they are cheaper than new ones, and units priced up to 7 million baht qualify for reduced transfer and mortgage fees. Unsold stock in Bangkok and vicinity is expected to fall in the short term, mainly for condos and townhouses, but detached houses remain weak. Floods since late September 2026 may slow stock clearance in the east and north of Bangkok. For SMEs in construction, materials, interior, or property services, plan for slow demand and favour the lower-priced segments.

Thai stock exchange moves DR, DW and ETF trading to 08.00 from 16 November 2026 Prachachat · Oct 10, 2026

From 16 November 2026, SET trading for DRs, DWs and ETFs referencing foreign securities opens at 08.00 instead of 10.00; closing time stays at 16.30 for day session. Pre-open moves to 07.50. Night session for US and European DRs continues at 19.00-02.45. Relevant only if your business or your owner invests in these products. Otherwise no action is needed beyond noting the new hours.

US and Russia move to release diesel supply, but analysts doubt it will cut prices soon Prachachat · Oct 10, 2026

Trump says Russia agreed to release diesel into world markets, starting with about 2.25 million barrels in October and rising to 7.5 million barrels by December. Analysts expect limited effect: the first lot is about 10% of Russia's pre-conflict monthly exports, and refinery capacity is uncertain. US retail diesel is about $6.28/gallon. For a Thai SME, diesel and transport costs may stay high near term, so keep fuel and freight assumptions conservative and do not expect a quick drop.

Medical costs may double every 10 years, so salaried staff and freelancers should start a dedicated health fund now The Standard Wealth · Oct 10, 2026

Medical inflation is cited at about 8% a year, which would double costs roughly every 10 years. The article says public schemes (Gold Card, Social Security, civil servant benefits) may be restructured because of fiscal limits. Practical steps it lists: build a dedicated medical reserve that earns more than 8% a year, consider a family pool for larger households, and look after health early if insurance is hard to get. On insurance, the new health standard only applies co-payment after 3 or more claims in a policy year where claims reach 200% (minor illness) or 400% (general illness) of premium, so most people are unlikely to hit it. Note the 8% figure and the restructuring warning are the article's own framing, not an official forecast.

Exhibition booth and event fees now deductible at 200% until end-2027 Prachachat · Oct 10, 2026

The Cabinet approved in principle a draft royal decree letting companies deduct 200% of actual costs for booth rental and participation fees at domestic trade fairs, exhibitions and product shows. It covers expenses from 6 Oct 2026 through 31 Dec 2027 and is not yet in force. If your business exhibits at domestic events, budget these costs for the deduction and watch for the final decree. Hotels, restaurants and transport firms may see more event-driven demand.

Police arrest 11 foreigners in nominee property crackdown, 95 companies flagged Bangkok Post · Oct 10, 2026

Police raided 17 locations at four Bangkok luxury estates and arrested 11 suspects, mostly Chinese nationals, with assets worth over 6 billion baht seized. The probe found 95 companies suspected of using Thai nominees to hold 94 houses and plots. Working with the Business Development Department, Lands Department and Revenue Department, authorities are tightening scrutiny of nominee structures. For a Thai SME, the practical point is that company shareholding and partner arrangements, especially where foreigners are involved in property or companies, face closer checks from several agencies.

Public debt nears 70% of GDP, and car excise tax and departure tax may change soon Prachachat · Oct 10, 2026

The cabinet approved a FY2027 debt plan with 1.26 trillion baht in new borrowing; public debt is projected at 69.7% of GDP at end-September 2027, just under the 70% ceiling. The finance minister says a car excise tax decision could come within 1-2 weeks. A 1,000-baht departure tax is also being discussed (about 12 billion baht a year). For a Thai SME, watch the car excise decision if you sell or service vehicles, and expect possible tax changes on travel and other items. Fiscal room is tight, so new tax measures are more likely than large spending boosts.

Household costs rose 1.6% in the first nine months of 2026, led by fuel, transport and food, and may stay high The Standard Wealth · Oct 10, 2026

Thai household spending averaged 21,217 baht a month in January to September 2026, up 326 baht (about 1.6%) on a year earlier. Transport, logistics and communication rose most (+228 baht), driven by retail fuel and public fares. Ready-made food also rose 93 baht, while clothing and alcohol fell. The Commerce Ministry expects costs to stay high, watching world oil prices, year-end travel demand and flood effects on fresh vegetables. For a small business, plan for higher fuel and delivery costs and for customers to cut discretionary spending and shift toward cheaper, convenient food.

Microsoft 365 Family and Premium OneDrive drops from 6TB pooled to 2TB shared, starting May 2027 for existing subscribers Blognone · Oct 10, 2026

Microsoft is cutting OneDrive storage on Microsoft 365 Family and Premium plans from up to 6TB pooled (1TB per member, up to 6 people) to a 2TB shared pool. New sign-ups get the change now; existing subscribers from the billing cycle starting 2 May 2027. If your office or household uses several accounts on one plan, check how much cloud storage you actually use and whether you need to buy extra (up to 10TB total is available as add-on) or move files to another backup. Single users may see no loss.

Central and western property markets split: Phetchaburi condos would take 19 years to sell out Prachachat · Oct 10, 2026

REIC's first-half 2026 data shows Ayutthaya and Saraburi demand rising on factory-worker and engineer housing, while Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phetchaburi slowed. Phetchaburi condo stock would take about 232 months (roughly 19 years) to sell, against about 71 months for detached houses. Developers there are slowing new launches and clearing stock. If you sell or rent property or building materials in these provinces, expect weaker condo demand and more discounting; Ayutthaya and Saraburi are where demand is growing.

Revenue Department collections beat FY2026 target by 75,000 million baht, with domestic VAT up 15% The Standard Wealth · Oct 10, 2026

The Revenue Department collected 2.52 trillion baht in the 2026 fiscal year, 3.1% above target and 8% up on last year. Domestic VAT rose 15%, helped by government spending stimulus (the Thai Chuay Thai Plus co-payment scheme) and higher fuel prices; import VAT rose 13.1%. Corporate income tax (based on half-year estimates, form ภ.ง.ด.51) rose 13.2%, and personal income tax rose 18% after the department used data analytics to target higher-potential taxpayers. For a small business, this signals tighter tax enforcement: expect more data-matching and audits, so keep VAT invoices, sales records and tax filings clean and reconciled.

PC sales fell about 20% in Q3 2026 as component costs rose, and analysts expect the slump to continue into 2027 Blognone · Oct 10, 2026

IDC and Omdia both report Q3 2026 PC sales down roughly 20% year on year (IDC -20.1%, Omdia -21.2%). Causes cited: much higher electronic component costs, and customers buying early in Q1-Q2 to beat price rises. IDC expects "expensive PC" conditions to persist into 2027. Omdia forecasts Q4 2026 down 24%. For a Thai SME, expect higher prices and tighter stock when buying computers or devices, and avoid large hardware purchases or stock-building until prices settle. Plan for slower demand if you sell or service IT equipment.

SET changes 8 trading rules from 16 Nov 2569 (2026), mostly affecting share traders and brokers Prachachat · Oct 10, 2026

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) will enforce 8 revised trading rules from 16 Nov 2026. Key changes: smaller price steps for stocks priced 5-50 baht, short selling limited to SET100, SET50-linked and similar liquid securities, a fee of 0.15 baht per order above 15,000 orders a day for high order-to-trade accounts, and removal of dynamic price bands and minimum resting time. Most small business owners do not trade shares directly. Only act if you hold listed shares, invest through a broker, or have a listed-company link. Full rules are at set.or.th.

Data centres and EVs bring fewer local jobs, so Thai SMEs should plan for a shifting labour market Bangkok Post · Oct 10, 2026

Employers' federation vice-chairman Tanit Sorat warns that BoI investment surged 37% in H1 2026 to 1.47 trillion baht, but data centres need few permanent staff and up to 75% of their equipment is imported. ICE car sales fell 26% in January-July while battery EV sales rose 97%, so auto parts suppliers face shrinking orders. Migrant registrations rose to over 4 million, and unemployment is 0.9%, so hiring competition and reliance on migrant labour will stay high. No immediate rule change is announced; review supplier exposure to ICE parts and plan for tighter labour supply.

Bangkok unified transit ticket starts 1 Jan 2027, capping rides at 45 baht per trip Prachachat · Oct 10, 2026

The transport minister announced a unified Bangkok-area rail ticket targeted for 1 January 2027: 17 baht entry fee, capped at 45 baht per trip, with no repeat entry fee when changing lines. Green Line still needs to be integrated with EMV payment, so the start date is not yet firm. Staff who commute by rail may spend less, and small shops near stations may see more foot traffic. Also planned: 2,320 EV buses for BMTA in 2027, and Smart Pier integration of 16 of 29 piers by Q4 2027. Freight rail as a backbone for northern and Malaysia/Singapore routes is a longer-term logistics change. Nothing requires action yet; watch for the official launch details.

Flood master plan overhaul puts Bangkok and eastern canals on the agenda, but the works are years away Prachachat · Oct 10, 2026

The National Water Resources Office is redrafting the national water master plan, with Bangkok as the priority and linked provinces Samut Prakan, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok and Pathum Thani. Near-term focus is on emergency response drills, not new infrastructure. Irrigation Department projects (Chai Nat-Pa Sak, Bang Ban-Bang Sai, eastern drainage canals) are not finished: Bang Ban-Bang Sai is under construction, due around late 2029, and Chai Nat-Pa Sak has budget from early 2027. Watch for heavy rain in the south on 9-12 October 2026. For a Bangkok SME, this means flood-prone areas may see road and drainage works, but nothing here changes your plans this quarter beyond having a flood response plan ready.

Gold bar and jewellery prices rise 100 baht today on 10 Oct 2026 Prachachat · Oct 10, 2026

Thai Gold Traders Association prices at 9:06 am: bar gold sells at 66,550 baht per baht-weight (buys back at 66,350); ornament gold sells at 67,350 and buys back at 65,021.24. World spot is US$4,194/oz. The gap between sell and buy-back prices is about 2,300 baht on ornament gold, so check the spread before pricing gold-related goods or buying stock. Prices move through the day, so confirm the rate before quoting a customer.