Archive

Bangkok flood pumps from Prachinburi and Ayutthaya reach Khlong Chan; Lat Krabang still waiting Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

Bangkok's governor is using locally built high-volume pumps to drain floodwater from Khlong Chan housing into Khlong Saen Saep, and pumps are being moved to Lat Krabang where Khlong Prawet Buri is still high. Water levels are falling in some areas, but deep pockets remain and Ratchadaphisek and Huamak roads are still partly flooded. Expect traffic disruption around Nida junction and Ram Khamhaeng. If your shop or warehouse is in eastern or northern Bangkok, check access and stock protection, and watch for Cell Broadcast alerts about Saiyai water flowing in from Pathum Thani.

Thai Airways cancels 37 more flights on 29 Sep–1 Oct 2026: check your bookings The Standard Wealth · Sep 30, 2026

Thai Airways has cancelled another 37 flights, domestic and international, on 29 Sep, 30 Sep and 1 Oct 2026. Domestic routes affected include Bangkok–Phuket (three flights), Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani. International routes include Munich, Brussels, Copenhagen, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney. If your staff, suppliers or customers are travelling on these dates, check the booking and rebook now. Passengers can call THAI Contact Center +66 2 356 1111 (24 hours).

Flood season is back: an economist puts a further 50 billion baht at risk if upstream water arrives, so plan for disruption now The Standard Wealth · Sep 30, 2026

Flooding from 24-28 September 2026 is estimated at about 25,000 million baht in economic damage, with Q3 GDP cut by 0.55%, Bangkok hit hardest. An economist warns a second upstream surge could add about 50,000 million baht in damage around Bangkok, mainly to factories, industrial estates and farms, depending on how well drainage works. Owners in flood-prone areas should check stock and equipment protection, rehearse evacuation and transport plans, and expect slower customer demand and possible delays in supplies. Flood risk is also raising concerns about foreign investment, so plan for a longer period of uncertainty.

Bangkok flood relief will run through PAO criteria, with Bangkok covering rent on proof of actual cost Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

Bangkok Governor Chadchart says flood compensation will follow Department of Disaster Prevention (DDPM) criteria, mainly for home repairs. Bangkok will pay rent on an actual-cost basis, not per head, with documents submitted online. The city says its budget is limited, so it must request funds and get council approval, and payouts may be slow. The 9,000-baht government payment is separate. For a Bangkok SME, this means keeping records of flood damage (photos, receipts, repair quotes) now, and not counting on city money soon. Riverside east-bank communities face further water and possible wall reinforcement, so plan for access and stock disruption.

Thai Life Insurance extends premium grace period 60 days for flood-hit policyholders in 32 provinces Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

Thai Life Insurance has extended the premium grace period by 60 days for policyholders due to pay between 20 September and 31 December 2569 (2026) in 32 flood-declared provinces, including Bangkok. Policies lapsed during this window are reinstated once overdue premiums are paid, with cover continuing on claims. Surrender values can be used to pay premiums with no interest if paid within 6 months of the due date. Replacement policy and ID card fees are waived if you contact the insurer by 28 February 2570 (2027). If your business holds group or personal policies with this insurer, check whether your staff or premises fall in the listed provinces. Claims can be filed via the app, partner hospitals, branches or the 1124 care centre.

Chao Phraya dam releases raised to 2,500 cu m/s from 30 Sep: move stock and equipment out of low-lying areas now Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

The Irrigation Department raised releases below Chao Phraya Dam to 2,500 m³/s from 12:00 on 30 September, with upstream inflow expected at 3,600–3,700 m³/s around 2 October. Watch areas outside flood walls along the Chao Phraya and Noi rivers, including parts of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Sing Buri and Chai Nat. Inside the flood walls, the department says there is no expected impact. Practical steps: raise electrical equipment, documents and stock, move vehicles and farm equipment to safety if at risk, and prepare an emergency contact list. Check updates from the Irrigation Department and your province, since conditions can change.

Northern and Isan property: Chiang Mai stock piling up, buyers shifting to leasehold-style rights Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

Northern property supply rose 6.9% in H1 2026 while new sales fell 3.5%; absorption is only 1.6% and stock would take about 56 months to sell. Chiang Mai condo sales grew, helped by foreign demand, and 500 usufruct registrations there show foreign buyers using legal alternatives to nominee structures. Developers selling 2-3 million baht homes face tight bank lending; the REIC director advises pre-approval with banks before taking bookings and offering cheaper units to compete with used homes. A developer warns that transferring units to register usufruct adds transfer fees, a 2% registration fee, specific business tax and VAT, so budget for those costs before choosing this route.

PM warns flood-hit provinces along the river face ongoing risk; Navy adds 46 more water-pushing boats Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

The PM says every province along the flood route, in the Central region and surrounding Bangkok, is still at risk. A war room will meet at 07:00 daily, and the Disaster Prevention Department (ปภ.) will brief each morning. The Navy has 43 water-pushing boats in Bangkok and 46 more ready to deploy. Water will not drain until the surrounding high tide drops, so expect flooding to persist. If your site is in these areas, check local warnings each morning, plan stock, staff access and power backup, and watch for road or utility disruption.

Bangkok floods hit Q3 retail and restaurant sales, but the 1,000-baht handout is expected to offset most of the damage Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

Bangkok declared a disaster emergency on 26 September after 48 hours of heavy rain, with all 50 districts affected. The author estimates flood losses of about 21,000 million baht in 2026 GDP, concentrated in Q3 retail, services and restaurants, with Q4 recovering through catch-up spending. The Thai Chuay Thai Plus phase 2 handout (about 1,000 baht per person, spent October to November) is expected to offset most of the hit. For a shop or restaurant, expect a softer Q3 and plan cash flow for that, while catch-up demand may return in Q4. The author also warns that drought risk from El Niño and the tight public-debt ceiling (about 67.45% of GDP) mean this relief may not be repeatable.

Brokers see flood-hit SET stocks as a short-term dip, with building-materials and retail names likely to recover after the water recedes Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

Brokers estimate Bangkok-area flood damage at THB 10-30 billion, with limited GDP and listed-company profit impact if no further heavy rain. Building-materials retailers may see repair demand after the water recedes, while stockpiling may lift food and convenience retail. Insurance faces higher claims ratios, and property developers, nonbank hire-purchase lenders and tourism are already seeing slower demand. For a shop or contractor, this is mainly a signal to plan for a short slowdown and then a repair-demand bump, not a reason to change the business.

Crude oil falls again as US-Iran talks continue; Thai fuel prices may ease later Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

On 29 Sep 2026, West Texas crude fell to US$89.38/bbl (-3.22) and Brent to US$102.59/bbl (-2.69) as US-Iran peace talks continued, though the two sides remain far apart. Saudi Arabia resumed seaborne exports from Yanbu, and Middle East crude exports rose in September to 16.328 million bbl/day, the highest since the war began in late February 2026. A US crude inventory build of 1.02 million bbl also came in above expectations. For a Thai SME, this points to easing fuel and transport costs in the near term, but prices remain high and the talks could fail, so do not reprice on one day's drop.

Gold prices rose 300 baht today: jewellery gold now 67,100 baht per baht-weight Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

Per the Gold Traders Association at 09:00 on 30 Sep 2026, jewellery gold sells out at 67,100 baht per baht-weight (up 300 from yesterday) and buys back at 64,778.68. Bar gold sells at 66,300 and buys back at 66,100. Gold spot is USD 4,172/oz. The spread between buy and sell prices is wide, so check buy-back prices before stocking or pricing gold-linked items, and reprice any gold jewellery or gold-backed loans you hold.

Bangkok's 38 districts and 118 sub-districts now qualify for emergency flood aid, so check if your area is covered Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has declared 38 Bangkok districts and 118 sub-districts eligible for emergency flood relief, after heavy rain from 25 September. Damage surveys are underway and payouts will follow. If your shop or workplace is in a listed sub-district, document the flood damage now (photos, receipts, repair quotes) and check with the district office on how to apply. The declaration is valid for up to three months. Note that the official list covers residents' relief, so confirm with officials whether business losses are included.

Government revives flood command centre, so flood information will come through one channel Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

The PM chaired the first meeting of the national disaster prevention and mitigation command centre (ปภ.) to handle flooding in Bangkok, nearby provinces and other areas. Governors and agencies from across the country are joining, with the aim of centralising official communication and coordinating civil servants, military and volunteers. For a small business, the practical point is to follow official flood warnings from this single channel, and to plan for possible disruption to road access, utilities and deliveries in affected areas. The article gives no specific new measures, deadlines or financial support.

SCB EIC expects oil prices to ease in 2027, but Thai diesel pump prices will fall slowly The Standard Wealth · Sep 30, 2026

SCB EIC expects global oil prices to soften in 2027 as non-OPEC supply grows faster than demand, though geopolitical risk keeps prices volatile. Thai retail fuel prices may fall more slowly than world crude because the oil fund still carries heavy debt, and diesel is expected to stay flat rather than drop quickly. For SMEs relying on trucking or fleet fuel, do not bank on a sharp cost drop in 2027 when setting prices or budgets. Petrochemical plastics (PE, PP) face continued oversupply, so commodity plastic users may see competitive pricing pressure. Fuel station operators should plan for thinner fuel margins and push non-oil and convenience income.

Former deputy PM warns Mae Klong riverside areas to move goods as water rises over 1 metre Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

Former deputy PM Plodprasop Suraswadi warned on Facebook that water from Srinakarin and Vajiralongkorn dams, both above 90% full, will be released heavily and may rise over 1 metre along the Mae Klong river. He says Bangkok's drainage is limited: pumps clear roughly 1,200 cusec a day, so flooding could last about 10 days. If your shop, warehouse or stock is near the Mae Klong or low-lying Bangkok east districts, move stock and equipment up now and check your flood plan. This is his personal forecast, not an official government warning, so confirm with the Royal Irrigation Department and local authorities.

PM orders daily 8am flood coordination meetings across all provinces The Standard Wealth · Sep 30, 2026

On 29 Sept, PM Anutin chaired the National Disaster Prevention Committee and said daily morning coordination meetings will run from now on, covering Bangkok and provinces nationwide. Agency heads may send a deputy instead of cancelling their own work. For a Thai SME, expect flood-related road closures, pumping and drainage work and possibly emergency announcements to be updated daily. Check local provincial disaster alerts before deliveries or stock moves. No new tax, loan or permit change was announced.

Who leads the NBTC is in dispute, with board meetings set for 1–2 October and possible criminal exposure Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

A former Supreme Court judge says the NBTC chair, Dr Soran, lost his authority after the Central Administrative Court dismissed his case on 25 September 2026, so the board meetings called for 1–2 October are unlawful. The board has failed to reach quorum 12 times in the past month, leaving 198+ agenda items pending. For a Thai business this matters only if you depend on NBTC decisions (licences, spectrum, telecom or broadcast rules), where delays are likely to continue. This is one commentator's legal view; the outcome is not settled.

Baht opens stronger at 33.56 per dollar on 30 Sep as US yields hit multi-decade high Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

The baht opened at 33.56 per USD, up from 33.60 the previous close, with a 24-hour expected range of 33.40-33.70. Driver: US 30-year Treasury yields hit 5.62%, the highest since June 2002, and markets are pricing a likely Fed hike (70.3% for October, 94.9% for December). Oil fell 3.48% to $89.38/barrel amid Middle East supply worries. For a Thai SME: the baht is in a narrow band for now, so keep existing FX quotes and hedges as planned; watch the US PCE inflation data and jobs report due this week and early October, since they can move the rate. Foreign investors sold net THB 7.7bn of Thai stocks and THB 3.1bn of Thai bonds the previous day.

Fastwork is moving from fastwork.co to fastwork.com by early 2027, so freelancers and clients should update their links Prachachat · Sep 30, 2026

Fastwork confirmed its second notice: fastwork.co will really close, but gradually. Everything moves to fastwork.com from late 2026 to early 2027. The company says freelancer income and client jobs will not be affected. Demo Day is 14-15 October 2026 at Siam Paragon, and there is a waitlist at fastwork.com. If your business uses fastwork.co for hiring or listings, update bookmarks and profiles and watch for the migration. The same article reports the operator's 2025 net loss of about 74.5 million baht, which is a reason to check payment terms before relying on the platform.