Archive

Reuters reports LNG buyers and sellers are seeking more supply diversity amid the Iran war. Article text was unavailable, so this is based on the headline alone. For Thai SMEs, watch for possible effects on gas and fuel-linked energy costs.

GHB plans unsecured solar rooftop loans of 100,000-150,000 baht for homeowners The Standard Wealth · Sep 21, 2026

The Government Housing Bank (ธอส.) is preparing a loan line for rooftop solar, separate from its 240,000-million-baht 2026 lending target. Expected terms: 100,000-150,000 baht per borrower, unsecured, up to 7 years, about 1,000 baht a month, sized for a roughly 5 kW system costing 140,000-150,000 baht. Eligible: homeowners who hold the electricity meter, including new customers. Target: households paying about 3,000 baht or more a month for electricity. Net-billing income from exported power is still under review. Details are not final, so check with the bank before planning. Home-office properties are excluded for now.

Academic says Thailand's OECD bid needs graft and rule-of-law fixes, not just paperwork Prachachat · Sep 21, 2026

Thammasat academic Wittaya Dansamrongkul says Thailand's OECD membership bid, targeted for 2028, is still at the application stage and faces a long external review by 25 OECD committees. He argues weak rule of law, rising corruption and governance gaps could make the target fail after heavy public spending. For a small business owner, nothing changes directly today; it is background on government spending and policy direction.

Consumer council sues Samsung again over screen lines, opening compensation to new claimants Prachachat · Sep 21, 2026

The Consumer Council filed a second class action against Thai Samsung and its Korean parent in the South Bangkok Civil Court over screen-line defects. Some 2,103 new complaints came in after the first compensation registration closed on 21 September 2025, including owners of out-of-scope models and people whose replacement screens also developed lines. The first mediation hearing is set for 26 October 2026. Relevance for a small business is limited: if you sell or repair Samsung phones, expect customer questions and possible claims on repaired screens. Keep purchase receipts, repair slips and photos of defects for customers, and check the Council's website for how to file.

Finance minister warns against cutting excise tax on diesel and petrol; any cut may favour biofuel from Thai farmers The Standard Wealth · Sep 21, 2026

Finance Minister Ekniti warned on 21 Sep that cutting the excise tax on oil could trigger a fiscal crisis while crude is above $100/barrel. The oil fund stood at -87,072 million baht as of 13 Sep, and government borrowing room for FY2569 (ending this month) is only about 10,000 million baht. The tax is still under consideration (tool 3, after the fund and refinery-price cuts). If it is cut, the government says it will target biofuels (B20 palm, E20 cane/cassava ethanol) rather than general fuel. For a Thai SME, fuel prices and transport costs stay exposed to a possible cut, so keep fuel-cost budgets on the current price and watch for a cabinet decision.

Bangkok is redesigning its drainage for 100mm-an-hour rain, with rules that may cover your site's green space Bangkok Post · Sep 21, 2026

Bangkok City Hall, with Japan's JICA, has started a five-year drainage master plan (first phase three years) targeting 100mm of rain per hour, up from the current design of about 76mm. Proposals under review include at least 50% permeable open space under the Open Space Ratio and possible changes to the Biotope Area Factor, which requires part of a development plot to be ecologically green. For SMEs developing land or buildings in Bangkok, these rules could change site layouts and costs, but no rule is final yet; watch for draft regulations.

IP Department cracks down on pirated films and series; sellers of pirated content face 6 months to 4 years in jail Prachachat · Sep 21, 2026

The Department of Intellectual Property is working with platforms and ISPs to take down pirated films, series and clips, which are increasingly spread through paid groups, link chains and offshore servers. For an SME, the practical points are: using or sharing pirated content can infringe the Copyright Act, commercial distribution carries 6 months to 4 years in jail and/or a fine of 100,000 to 800,000 baht, and "free" or unusually cheap content can expose customers and staff to data theft. If your business uses films, series or clips in marketing, stick to licensed sources. Complaints can be filed through the platform or with the department (02-547-4702, hotline 1368).

Finance minister says only about 10 billion baht of fiscal room left in FY2026, so a fuel tax cut is unlikely soon Prachachat · Sep 21, 2026

Deputy PM and Finance Minister Ekniti said Thailand has only about 10 billion baht of fiscal room left for borrowing in FY2569 (ends September 2026). He said cutting the oil excise tax could trigger a fiscal crisis, so the government is still weighing it. Other tools used first are the oil fund and refinery margin cuts. Any tax cut would target E20 and B20 fuel, mainly to help sugarcane and cassava farmers. FY2570 fiscal room will be reviewed again. For now, plan fuel costs on current prices and do not budget for an excise cut.

Sa Kaeo's 12.8 km city-bypass road due in 2027, 70% built Prachachat · Sep 21, 2026

The Rural Roads Department says the 914.5 million baht Sa Kaeo city-plan road (12.795 km, 4 lanes) is 70% complete and due in 2027 (2570). Work left: road surfacing, pavements, street lighting and bridges. For a Sa Kaeo business, expect construction disruption on the route until then, and better traffic flow and transport links toward the Indochina border afterwards. No action needed now beyond planning delivery routes around the works.

Chao Phraya flood warning covers 11 provinces including Bangkok, so check stock and access now Bangkok Post · Sep 21, 2026

The Royal Irrigation Department issued its third warning on Monday (21 Sept) for 11 provinces in the Chao Phraya Basin, including Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan and Ayutthaya. Flows at Nakhon Sawan are expected to reach 1,400-1,450 cu m/sec by 29 Sept, and river levels may rise 0.5-1.5 metres. Low-lying areas outside flood embankments in Ayutthaya (Sena, Phak Hai, Bang Ban, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Bang Pa-in, Bang Sai) may see higher water. RID says residential areas are not expected to be affected, but further warnings follow if the dam release exceeds 1,300 cu m/sec. If your premises or stock sit near the river or in low-lying spots outside embankments, move stock and check access routes before 29 Sept.

Sukhumvit Skytrain delays hit Asok to Bang Chak on Monday morning Bangkok Post · Sep 21, 2026

An electrical fault at Asok station on Monday morning (about 9:45am) delayed Sukhumvit Line trains between Phloen Chit and Bang Chak, and passengers were left waiting on platforms. BTS gave no public explanation at the time. If your staff or customers commute on this line, allow extra travel time on disruption days. Sunday's fire on the MRT Blue Line was a separate incident, and normal service had resumed by Monday morning.

Thai–US tariff deal aims to hold 19% before Section 301 ruling Prachachat · Sep 21, 2026

Deputy PM and Commerce Minister Supasee says Thailand is rushing to finish the ART (reciprocal trade) talks with the US before Washington announces its Section 301 findings, aiming to keep the 19% tariff agreed last year. Principles are reportedly agreed; only technical details remain. The US 122 tariff (10%, 150 days) expired on 24 July, and Section 301 is the replacement. Thailand must still address forced labour (its provisional rate is 12.5% vs 10% for neighbours) and overcapacity. For exporters, keep a contingency for a higher US tariff if the deal slips, and watch for the announcement date.

Thailand projected to grow slowest in ASEAN over the next decade at 2.2% a year The Story Thailand · Sep 21, 2026

A Brain & Company, DBS and Vriens & Partners outlook for 2026-2035 projects Thailand at 2.2% average annual growth, the lowest among the six large ASEAN economies (Vietnam 6.2%, Philippines 5.8%, Indonesia 5.4%, Malaysia 4.3%, Singapore 2.7%). The report points to an ageing population, mismatched labour skills and weak policy continuity as the main constraints. For a small business, slower growth means softer domestic demand and tighter hiring and wage prospects over the long term, so plan for flat sales and focus on higher-value products or new markets. The article also flags household debt: average debt rose to about 794,945 baht per household, and BNPL use jumped from 6.2% to 14.2% in a year, so check customers' ability to pay on credit terms.

The Chinese yuan reached a fresh multi-year high after the central bank eased a curb ahead of a Trump-Xi summit. Thai SMEs that import from China may see slightly cheaper yuan-priced costs, but only watch this if you pay Chinese suppliers in yuan; the baht-yuan move is the one to track.

NBTC paralysis stalls telecom and TV rules, including scam-SIM and emergency-alert plans Prachachat · Sep 21, 2026

Academics from Chulalongkorn's communication arts faculty and allied groups issued a statement (18 Sep event, 108 signatories) urging an end to the stalled operations of the NBTC board. They say a backlog has built up on the TV digital roadmap (2026–2030), OTT and Connected TV rules, 5G/6G spectrum auction planning, foreign satellite landing rights, and consumer complaints about scam ads and SIM fraud. For a small business, expect slower decisions on telecom and broadcast matters, including emergency alert systems. Nothing in the statement changes your obligations today; treat it as background on regulatory delay.

Baht seen at 33.00-33.60 per dollar this week as oil and global rate hikes pressure it Prachachat · Sep 21, 2026

Krungsri Global Markets expects the baht to trade between 33.00 and 33.60 per dollar for the week of 21-25 September 2026, after the US Fed raised rates 0.25% to 3.75-4.00%, its first hike in three years. The baht closed last week at 33.31. Risks to the baht are a further oil price jump, which would support the dollar, and a weaker euro. Thai policy-rate pressure is seen as limited, and the baht may weaken short-term. For importers, pay dollar bills now if you can; for exporters, the weaker baht helps near-term margins.

Chao Phraya Dam to Release 1,000–1,300 cubic metres per second, Ayutthaya downstream lowlands to flood 0.5–1.5 m Prachachat · Sep 21, 2026

The Royal Irrigation Department plans to raise Chao Phraya Dam releases to 1,000–1,300 cu m/s after heavy rain (over 100 mm on 19–20 September) upstream. Water downstream of the dam could rise 0.5–1.5 m, mainly in low-lying areas outside the flood walls in Sena, Phak Hai, Bang Ban, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Bang Pa-in and Bang Sai districts. Areas inside the flood walls are not yet affected. If your shop, warehouse, farm or stock is in those districts, move stock and equipment up now, and follow Royal Irrigation Department alerts for any change in the release rate.

Crude oil prices fall for a fourth day as Middle East supply worries ease Prachachat · Sep 21, 2026

West Texas crude fell to about US$100.30 and Brent to about US$103.87 per barrel on 18 Sep 2026, both down for four straight sessions. Drivers: repairs to Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, and Saudi Aramco reportedly raising exports from Ras Tanura. Attacks in the region and uncertainty over Strait of Hormuz shipping remain, so prices could swing back. For a Thai SME, fuel and transport costs are still very high; do not assume relief yet. Review fuel surcharges and delivery budgets, and avoid locking in higher costs on the basis of this one-week dip.

Heavy rain still hits central Thailand and Bangkok through 26 Sep, with flash flood risk Prachachat · Sep 21, 2026

The Meteorological Department says rain eases from 21 to 26 Sep 2026 but heavy to very heavy falls remain in spots. Very heavy rain is forecast for central Thailand and Bangkok on 25-26 Sep, and for the eastern region on 24-26 Sep. Flash floods and runoff are a risk in low-lying areas and near hill slopes. For a small business, check stock and equipment stored at ground level, plan deliveries and staff travel around flooded roads, and keep delivery schedules flexible. Small boats in the upper Andaman should stay in port for one more day (20 Sep).

US Fed raises rates for first time in 3 years, oil above $100 keeps pressure on Thai costs Prachachat · Sep 21, 2026

The US Federal Reserve raised its policy rate by 0.25% to 3.75-4% in September 2026, the first hike in three years, to fight persistent inflation. Oil has climbed above $100 a barrel on Middle East tensions, including Hormuz shipping disruption. Markets expect possibly two more hikes this year, with one in December likely. For a Thai SME: expect pressure on fuel and imported input costs, and watch for a stronger US dollar and possible higher borrowing costs. Review cash flow, fuel and import-cost assumptions, and avoid locking in new variable-rate debt without a plan.