Archive

Eight Expressways Toll-Free Until Midnight 27 Sept Due to Flooding Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) has waived tolls on eight expressways from 13:00 on 26 Sept until midnight on Sunday 27 Sept 2026, due to heavy rain and flooding. Affected drivers and delivery vehicles can use these routes at no toll. EXAT and BEM will post which on/off ramps are flooded or closed, so check before dispatching. Plan delivery routes and staff commutes around closures and allow for heavy traffic.

Social Security board election may move polling units or dates in flood-hit areas Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

The Labour Minister has ordered the Social Security Office and its election committee to assess flood risk before the 2026 Social Security board election. Polling units in hard-hit areas may be moved to safer sites or the vote postponed locally, and travel help is being set up. Employers with staff in flooded provinces should check whether their workers' polling station has changed. Official decisions are promised from the Social Security Office.

GSB closes dozens of Bangkok and Nonthaburi branches over heavy rain, so plan cash and transfers around it Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

On 26 Sep 2026 GSB (Government Savings Bank) temporarily closed or suspended services at about 27 branches across Bangkok and Nonthaburi because of heavy rain and travel disruption, with more areas to be announced. Owners who bank at these branches, including those inside Central, Big C, The Mall and Pata outlets, should move deposits, cheque clearing and cash handling to another GSB branch, app or counter service. Check the GSB Society Facebook page for updates before sending staff to the bank.

All 50 Bangkok districts declared disaster zones as flooding spreads, so plan for closed roads and stock damage this week Bangkok Post · Sep 26, 2026

The Bangkok Governor has declared all 50 districts disaster zones after heavy rain caused flooding and traffic problems, with eastern Bangkok hardest hit. Canal levels are critical and expected to rise, and the Chao Phraya Dam discharge is being raised to 1,950 cu m/sec. Flooding has been reported in 20 provinces, and heavy rain is forecast nationwide until Sunday. For a Bangkok shop or workshop, expect delivery delays and road closures, move stock and equipment off the floor, and check whether your staff can get to work safely.

Flooding delays mall openings in Bangkok on 26 Sep, so expect slower foot traffic Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

The Mall Group has pushed opening times to 12:00 on 26 September 2026 at The Mall Ngamwongwan and The Mall Lifestore Bangkapi because of flooding. Fashion Island and The Promenade have also closed temporarily that day. If your shop sells in or near these malls, expect a slow morning, plan staff start times and stock deliveries around it, and check for further closure notices.

Finance minister says Thai Chuay Thai Plus phase 2 will continue, with fiscal discipline and no open-ended handouts Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas says the Thai Chuay Thai Plus 60/40 phase 2 will keep supporting spending power during the energy transition, capped at 200 baht per day. Over 3 months about 26 million people used it, and roughly 1.2 million small shops took part; about 16% of shop spending was in Bangkok. Small vendors are prioritised (markets, street stalls, small shops). The programme also offers food-delivery onboarding, online sales training, and an AI sales-analysis tool in the Thung Ngern app. Banks can see sales data from the system, and BSY (SME guarantee agency) will guarantee loans for those without collateral. The government says it will not keep expanding handouts, so plan for support to be time-limited and build online sales and solar or cost-cutting measures now.

Bangkok declares flood-disaster zone across all 50 districts from 25 September Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

Bangkok's governor has extended the flood disaster declaration from three eastern districts (Nong Chok, Suan Luang, Khan Na Yao) to all 50 districts, effective 25 September 2026, because continuing heavy rain is causing waterlogging and traffic problems. The declaration lets government agencies and local authorities act faster across the city. For a Bangkok SME, check flood exposure at your premises, stock and delivery routes this week, and confirm your insurance covers flood damage. Expect slower deliveries and road closures while waterlogging continues.

Chao Phraya water levels rising after Rain Bomb: farmers in riverside areas told to harvest now Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

The Irrigation Department is releasing 1,700 cubic metres per second from Chao Phraya Dam and may increase it. Canals west and east of the river are near full capacity. Farmers on both banks are asked to harvest quickly to clear space for floodwater. For Bangkok and vicinity, watch three factors: local rain, upstream water, and high tide. The ministry expects rainfall to ease from 27 September 2026. If your premises, stock or deliveries are in low-lying or riverside areas, plan for disruption until then.

Thai border and transit trade jumped 34% in August, with Myanmar and Malaysia leading the growth Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

Thai border and transit trade hit 201,600 million baht in August 2026, up 34.2% year on year, and 1.54 trillion baht over the first eight months (up 15.3%). Myanmar exports rose 66.2%, the first growth in 12 months, driven by fuel and consumer goods. Malaysia trade rose 45%, led by electronics. Transit trade to China grew 42.1%, led by fresh durian, longan and mangosteen, electronics and rubber. For SMEs in border provinces, the Myanmar and Malaysia demand and China transit flows are the areas to watch for orders and logistics planning. Note that border trade with Cambodia, Laos and the first eight months as a whole remain weaker in places.

Bangkok's new flood-road map flags red and orange streets from 4am Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has launched a real-time website showing flooded roads across the city, built with claude.ai using Google Maps data. Users can search by district or road. Red and orange roads that stay that way from early morning (around 4am) are likely flooded and slow traffic, so check it before dispatching deliveries or staff. Orange and red can also mean heavy traffic, not only water, so treat it as a guide.

Commerce Ministry orders steady supply and prices as heavy rain floods hit; report hoarding or unfair pricing to hotline 1569 Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

The Commerce Ministry (announced 26 Sep 2026) is monitoring heavy rain and flooding nationwide. Provincial commerce offices will track stock, prices and demand for essential goods, and coordinate with wholesalers, retailers and suppliers to restock and deliver goods to flood-hit areas. Expect scrutiny of hoarding, unlabelled prices and unfair pricing. Keep shelves stocked, price-tag goods clearly, and avoid sharp price rises. Report problems or questions via hotline 1569 or the provincial commerce office. If your business can supply essentials to affected areas, contact your provincial commerce office.

Fashion Island and The Promenade shut temporarily on 26 Sept over flooding Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

Fashion Island and The Promenade malls announced a temporary closure on Saturday 26 September 2026 because flooding has cut access roads to the malls. The mall has not said when it will reopen and will reassess the situation. If your shop or stall is in or near these malls, expect lost sales that day, and check with the mall before sending staff or stock. Plan for access problems on nearby routes while the flooding lasts.

Government revenue beat target by 2.3% in 11 months, but Revenue Department missed nothing; borrowing to cover deficit fell 6.8% Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

Thailand's state revenue for Oct 2025 to Aug 2026 reached 2.607 trillion baht, 57.5 billion above target (+2.3%) and up 4% year on year. The Revenue Department beat its target by 3.7%, driven by VAT. Customs fell 5.6% short of target and Excise 2.2% short, which may signal softer import and excise volumes. Government borrowing to cover the deficit fell 6.8% to 810 billion baht, and cash balances are down 20.1%. For a small business, this is background: no filing or price change follows, but weak customs and excise collection can hint at tighter import-linked demand.

Bangkok flooding: avoid travel today and expect delays on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

On 26 Sep, Bangkok authorities reported flooding in several areas, especially Vibhavadi-Rangsit inbound from Chatuchak to Lat Phrao intersection, and asked residents to avoid travel. The SET postponed its Jump+ Investor Day event at its Rachadaphisek building, with a new date to be announced. If your staff, deliveries or customer visits depend on central Bangkok roads today, plan around it, and consider moving deliveries or meetings to another day.

Thailand is drafting new AI and platform rules that will make businesses answer for how their software behaves Bangkok Post · Sep 26, 2026

Thailand is drafting several laws covering digital transactions, AI and platforms. Regulators will look at how technology actually works, not just policies and contracts. The Trade Competition Commission is tightening oversight of ride-hailing and delivery platforms, including pricing algorithms and "dark patterns" that affect drivers. The commissioner says the new draft will not add heavy costs for platforms, focusing on monitoring and transparency. A proposed change would remove the exemption for sectors with their own regulators, so more sectors could fall under general competition law. For an SME, this is a watch item: if you sell through platforms or use automated pricing, tools or software, expect to be asked to explain how they work. No deadline is given yet.

Eastern Bangkok flooded: move stock and vehicles to high ground and avoid 15 main roads Bangkok Post · Sep 26, 2026

Heavy rain since Thursday has left eastern Bangkok deeply flooded, with all local canals full and 15 main roads underwater as of Saturday morning, per Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. Districts such as Min Buri, Klong Sam Wa and Saphan Sung recorded nearly 300 mm. The governor urged people near canals to move valuables and vehicles to high ground, since more rain is expected from Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani. Sandbags are available at district offices. If rain stops, floodwater should recede in about six hours. For a business, plan deliveries and staff travel around the flooded roads (including Srinagarindra, Lat Phrao, Sukhumvit Bang Na to Udomsuk and Ram Intra), and protect stock and vehicles stored at low levels.

Bangkok property market splits: condos near Sukhumvit selling, landed houses in Nonthaburi and Nong Suea stuck Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

REIC Q2 2026 data: Bangkok and 5 surrounding provinces hold 214,083 unsold units worth 1.35 trillion baht, about 52 months to sell out. Sukhumvi condos are strong (1,045 units, up 138.6%, 16 months to sell out) helped by Chinese buyers, while landed houses are weak (Bangkok landed sales down 18.4%). Nong Suea (Pathum Thani) is rated critical at about 88 months to clear and Nonthaburi condos are selling well. Mid and lower-income buyers face tighter mortgage approvals, so developers are shifting to lower-priced units (1-5 million baht) in Q3-Q4. If you supply construction, fit-out or land-linked services, favour Sukhumvit/Rama 9/Bang Na corridors and be cautious on landed-home projects in the outer east and north.

Bangkok flood zone declaration covers all 50 districts; keep flood-damage photos to claim aid Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

On 26 Sep, the BMA said it is preparing to declare all 50 Bangkok districts a flood disaster area, which would unlock aid under its criteria (details not yet final). Start now: photograph your premises before and after any flooding and keep the evidence for any aid claim. Check sandbag supply and plan for staff and stock if water rises. Aid is for residents as described; the article gives no amounts or application forms. Local district offices and the 1555 hotline can confirm what applies to your business.

Oil prices may stay high for two years as the cabinet approves a 2026-2029 crisis plan and the fuel fund goes into deficit Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

The cabinet approved a 2026-2029 oil crisis plan. The fuel fund (about 95,000 million baht negative, growing about 700 million a day) is expected to hit 100,000 million by late September or early October 2026, and the government plans a new state-guaranteed loan of roughly 100,000 million baht via Krungthai and GSB. The price-intervention triggers were tightened: diesel or benzine above 30 baht/litre, a 10 USD/barrel move within a week (was 5), or a 2 baht/litre retail move within a week (was 1). Officials warn high prices could last two more years. Plan fuel, transport and energy costs for that period, and watch for changes to subsidies.

Diesel B7 at 41.44 baht and B20 at 36.44 baht on 26 Sep: check your fleet fuel cost Prachachat · Sep 26, 2026

Bangchak pump prices for 26 Sep: diesel B20 36.44 baht/litre (up 0.75 baht from the previous day), diesel B7 41.44 baht, gasohol 95 39.94 baht, gasohol 91 39.57 baht. Prices exclude the Bangkok local land tax and take effect at 05:00 the next day. Check the price at your own station before budgeting, since pump prices can differ from the reference.