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Gold jewellery up 50 baht to 69,900 baht per baht-weight today, 19 Sep 2026 Prachachat · Sep 19, 2026

Thai gold association prices as of 09:06 on 19 Sep 2026: jewellery sells at 69,900 baht per baht-weight (buy-back 67,522.64), up 50 baht from the previous close. Gold bars sell at 69,100 (buy-back 68,900). Global spot is US$4,379/oz. Shops that buy gold or sell jewellery should reprice counters and check buy-back margins against this morning's spread, since the gap between sell and buy-back prices is about 2,377 baht per baht-weight on jewellery.

New excise tiers tax imported Chinese EVs at up to 3x% while local assembly drops to 1-6% Prachachat · Sep 19, 2026

Thailand's EV board has agreed in principle to a 3-tier excise structure, expected to take effect in early 2027. Fully imported (CBU) EVs without local production face the top rate of 3x%. Makers that produce locally and meet local-content and e-Part conditions pay 1-6% (FCEV 1%, BEV 2%, PHEV 5%, HEV 6%). Conditions tighten in 2028 (30% Thai local content plus e-parts, or 40%), and the BOI investment-promotion card is required for import quotas in 2028. For a small business in the car trade, parts supply, or dealership, expect pricing and stock changes from the import makers, and check which tier your suppliers or dealers fall under. The article is still a principle, not final law.

Oil-driven inflation and rate hikes abroad keep costs and borrowing pressure on Thai SMEs Bangkok Post · Sep 19, 2026

Brent crude is still near $103 a barrel even after a 1% dip, and the Fed raised rates to 3.75%-4.00%, with markets pricing another hike in December. The Bank of Japan and Hong Kong also tightened, and the Bank of England warned UK inflation could top 4% early next year. For a Thai SME, expect fuel, freight and imported input costs to stay high and borrowing costs to face upward pressure. Review fuel and shipping cost assumptions in your budget and lock in fixed-rate terms where you can. The "Thais Help Thais Plus" stimulus was extended to Nov 30, which may support domestic demand for a few more weeks.

Heavy rain and flash-flood risk across central Thailand and Bangkok today and tomorrow, with small boats advised to stay ashore Prachachat · Sep 19, 2026

The Thai Meteorological Department forecasts thunderstorms over 60-80% of the country for the next 24 hours, with heavy rain in central Thailand including Bangkok and its vicinity, and heavy rain in parts of the south. Warnings cover flash floods, flash floods from mountain runoff and landslides. Plan for delivery delays, flooded access roads and stock or equipment at low-lying sites. Small boats in the upper Andaman Sea should stay in port until 20 Sep 2026; waves there are 2-3 m, over 3 m where storms form.

EEC property market is recovering, but Rayong condos are sitting on unsold stock for seven years Prachachat · Sep 19, 2026

REIC's Q2 2026 survey: EEC unsold inventory fell 5.3% and absorption is 2.3% a month, about 41 months to clear versus 54 before. Chonburi is strongest, with condo demand lifted by foreign buyers, tourism and industrial estate workers. Rayong is weak: Pluak Daeng sales fell 30.4%, and detached houses are slow with about 54 months of stock. Chachoengsao (Bang Pakong) condos are selling well. If you sell or build in Rayong, price and phase conservatively; in Chonburi, the condo market is balancing.

Thai rates stay at 1% into 2027 as big firms shift to bank loans Prachachat · Sep 19, 2026

The US Fed raised rates for the first time in three years, to 3.75-4%. Bank of Thailand Governor says Thai policy rate stays at 1%, and SCB-KKP economists see it holding through end-2027. Big companies are delaying bond issues and borrowing from banks instead, since bank loans are cheaper; Sansiri expects bond costs to rise 0.25-0.4%. For SMEs, cheap bank credit should hold, but watch the baht: a weaker baht or oil above $100 would raise import and energy costs. Impact on Thai business is still small for now.

Diesel B7 at 40.69 baht and B20 at 35.69 baht a litre today; B20 up 0.85 baht Prachachat · Sep 19, 2026

Bangchak pump prices on 19 Sep 2026: B7 diesel 40.69 baht/litre, B20 35.69 baht (up 0.85 baht from yesterday), Gasohol 95 39.94 baht, Gasohol 91 39.57 baht, E20 34.94 baht. Prices exclude the Bangkok local land tax and the article says tomorrow's prices take effect at 05:00. Check your own station's price before budgeting fuel for delivery and transport runs, and consider whether B20 is a cheaper option for your fleet or generators.

Government delays Thai Iaew Thai Plus tourism subsidy to April 2027, so hold off on year-end promotions Prachachat · Sep 19, 2026

The 4-billion-baht "Thai Iaew Thai Plus" domestic travel subsidy has moved from 1 October 2026 to April 2027. Hotels that prepared campaigns for the October start should rethink timing. The scheme is a flat rate of up to 1,500 baht per night per right, not a 50/50 co-pay, so small hotels may gain relatively more. The Thai Hotels Association wants the registration and booking systems ready in advance. TAT is reportedly preparing a "Bus Tour Thai" programme for October to December 2026, with a 10,000-baht per bus per day subsidy (up to 5 nights), minimum 30 travellers, overnight inter-provincial trips, and an 8-million-baht budget. Details are still pending.

Thai Thiao Thai Plus delayed to April 2027, so hold off on Q4 promotions tied to it Prachachat · Sep 19, 2026

The government has postponed the 4 billion baht "Thai Thiao Thai Plus" stimulus from 1 October 2026 to April 2027. Operators had prepared October campaigns; hotels say the flat-rate subsidy (up to 1,500 baht per room-night) favours larger hotels. Small hotels should not count on the subsidy for Q4 and can revisit campaigns for April–June 2027, the low season the hotel association recommends. Watch for the ททท. "Bus Tour Thai" scheme, reportedly 10,000 baht per bus per day, for group trips of at least 30 people with overnight stays across provinces, expected October–December 2026 with an 8 million baht budget; details are still pending.

Second Thais Help Thais Plus payout likely 1,000 baht over two months Bangkok Post · Sep 19, 2026

The government signalled a second phase of the Thais Help Thais Plus co-payment scheme, likely a one-off 1,000-baht allowance usable over two months, with the 60:40 formula kept. Welfare-card holders would get an extra 700 baht on top of the regular 300 baht. Conditions are not yet official; Finance Minister Ekniti is to announce them, and a package goes to cabinet on Tuesday. For a shop owner, this may lift spending from lower-income customers in the coming months, and energy and agricultural prices are also under review by the Commerce Ministry. Wait for the official conditions before changing stock or pricing.

AirAsia says no bailout, but domestic fares may rise toward 2,000 baht by year-end as jet fuel costs surge Bangkok Post · Sep 19, 2026

AirAsia says it has no plans for a Malaysian government bailout and its US$1bn refinancing should close around November or December. Thai AirAsia, with 39% of the domestic flight market as of August, wants to lift average domestic fares to about 2,000 baht by year-end to offset jet fuel costs. It is not hedging fuel because prices are high. For a business that relies on domestic air travel or freight, expect higher airfares and possibly fewer routes, and plan travel and transport budgets with that in mind. Thai AirAsia also plans to resume domestic routes from Suvarnabhumi to Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi.

Thailand may tax gold trades at 0.01%, so gold shops and app buyers should watch for new rules Bangkok Post · Sep 19, 2026

The central bank and Finance Ministry are discussing a transaction tax on gold trading, possibly 0.01% of value (7 baht on a 70,000 baht trade). The stated aim is tracking buyers and sellers against money laundering, not raising revenue. Officials are still hesitant about hurting the domestic gold trade, and no law is drafted yet. Current rules: personal gold bought from a gold shop for savings is exempt from income tax and VAT, but frequent app-based trading for profit may be taxed as income, and the making charge on jewellery remains subject to VAT. Gold shops and gold-app users should keep clean purchase and sale records and watch for the draft legislation.

Regulator orders Shopee-type platforms to freeze GP fee hikes for six months and justify them Bangkok Post · Sep 19, 2026

The Trade Competition Commission fined Shopee 3.48 million baht for enrolling sellers in paid promotions without consent, the first such fine on an e-marketplace. It has also ordered platforms to suspend GP fee increases for six months and submit data justifying any changes. If you sell on e-marketplaces, check your platform's promotion opt-ins and trial end dates, since extra fees of 3-7% can apply if you don't withdraw in time. Keep records of fee notices and contract changes, and file a complaint if fees rise unfairly. The regulator says it will decide on the information available if platforms don't respond, and Shopee can appeal within 90 days.

Regulator orders e-marketplaces to freeze fee hikes for six months and justify GP rates Bangkok Post · Sep 19, 2026

The Trade Competition Commission fined Shopee 3.48 million baht for enrolling sellers in paid promotions without consent, with extra service fees of 3-7% for those who did not opt out in time. Under Section 60 of the Trade Competition Act 2017, e-commerce platforms must suspend fee increases for six months and submit data justifying GP rates, and the regulator will decide on available information if they do not. If you sell on Shopee or other marketplaces, check your promotion enrolments and opt-out deadlines now, and keep records of fee changes and contract terms. Seven merchant complaints remain under consideration as of July. The regulator has not set a GP cap.

Gun permit freezes for ป.3 and ป.12 are temporary, ป.4 age limits still under review Prachachat · Sep 18, 2026

The Department of Provincial Administration says the freeze on new gun-purchase permits (ป.3) and carry permits (ป.12) is temporary while the law is amended. The ป.12 freeze runs from 20 Feb 2026 to 19 Feb 2027. Limiting the validity of ป.4 possession permits is still only a proposal. Public comments on the draft emergency decree are open 18 Sep to 17 Oct 2569 (2026) at www.law.go.th. Relevant mainly to businesses in security, shooting sports, or gun retail, and to anyone planning to apply for these permits.

BOI and SET's new BOI-to-IPO scheme gives extra tax breaks to listed New Economy firms The Story Thailand · Sep 18, 2026

BOI, SET and the SEC signed an MOU on 17 September 2026 to link investment promotion with capital markets. The board approved on 11 September that BOI-promoted New Economy firms certified by SET get extra corporate income tax exemption of 3 years, or a further 50% reduction for 5 years. Other promoted companies get 2 years exemption or 50% reduction for 3 years, depending on activity. Existing BOI-promoted firms are also covered. For most SMEs this is a listing-route benefit that matters only if you supply, or plan to grow into, a BOI-promoted New Economy company. Otherwise, treat it as background.

Scammers now use AI voice and face clones to rush staff into payments, so add a call-back rule before any transfer The Story Thailand · Sep 18, 2026

A Mahidol University criminologist says scams work by triggering emotion, not by beating the victim's intelligence. AI now makes fake faces, voices and identities more convincing, and one phishing message can reach many people at once. Scammers often pose as police, government agencies, banks or phone operators, and use urgency such as a 24-hour deadline. For a small business, set a rule that any urgent payment or change of bank details is confirmed by calling back on a known number, not the one that contacted you. Also tell staff not to engage with unknown callers, since a recorded voice can be reused.

Bangkok's 8-baht red-cream buses are being phased out by June, with fares of 15-25 baht on new EV buses Prachachat · Sep 18, 2026

BMTA (ขสมก.) plans to retire its 8-baht non-air-conditioned red-cream buses in Bangkok and nearby areas by June next year, replacing them with 1,520 electric air-conditioned buses charging 15-25 baht. First deliveries of 500 are expected by March next year. The Transport Ministry is still looking for ways to ease the burden on riders. For a small business, this mainly affects staff commuting costs and transport planning around depots and delivery routes; no action is needed yet beyond budgeting for higher fares if your staff rely on these buses.

BOT says 1.00% policy rate stays appropriate and the baht is stable, so no rate rise is signalled for now The Standard Wealth · Sep 18, 2026

The Bank of Thailand (18 Sep 2026) kept its view that the 1.00% policy rate fits the local economy, even as several central banks raise rates. It said the baht is moving steadily, reserves exceed USD 300bn, and it is not worried about capital outflows. Thai growth is still below potential and inflation is expected to ease in 2027, so policy can stay accommodative. For an SME, the practical read is that borrowing costs are unlikely to jump soon. Keep existing loan and FX plans, but do not assume the baht will swing sharply on rate gaps alone.

Ft power tariff cut for Sep–Dec 2026 and 20-year buy-back for rooftop solar at 2.20 baht/unit The Standard Wealth · Sep 18, 2026

The National Energy Policy Committee approved a 16.23 satang/unit retail Ft for Sep–Dec 2026, funded by 16,127 million baht of clawed-back excess profits, with gas for power plants capped at 363.53 baht per million BTU. Rooftop, ground and floating solar under Net Billing gets a target of 10,000 MW, a 5 kW-per-meter cap, and a 2.20 baht/unit buy-back for surplus power over 20 years. Businesses with rooftops should check the new rules, which the ERC must still issue. Gas-price step-ups are due from May 2027, so power bills may rise later.