CP, NTT Docomo Unite on Marketing
NTT Docomo Global has teamed up with CP Group’s Ascend Commerce to launch a data‑driven marketing solutions business in Thailand, built around Ascend’s Amaze super‑app. Amaze, a loyalty commerce platform, already logged 9.1 million installations and aims to surpass 15 million by year‑end. The partnership, cemented with a capital alliance and a share‑subscription completed on 25 March 2026, will combine Docomo’s CRM expertise with Amaze’s points‑based ecosystem. New services such as Amaze Survey and an upcoming “Amazing Japan” mall section will deepen consumer engagement and introduce Japanese brands to Thai shoppers.
What the Gulf Conflict Means for Airlines
Thai airlines are slashing flight capacity for May, with low‑cost carrier AirAsia cutting up to 15% as jet‑fuel costs have more than doubled since the US‑Iran conflict began. Jet fuel, which normally accounts for about 30% of operating expenses, now...
NBTC Rejects Internet TV Alert System
Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has rejected a proposal to install an emergency alert system on internet‑protocol TV (IPTV) set‑top boxes. The plan, backed by the Universal Service Obligation fund, would have allocated 60 million baht (about $1.6 million) to...
CP All Defends Reorganisation Plans
Thai retailer CP All reiterated it will not merge its three subsidiaries—Counter Service Co, Thai Smart Card Co and CP Axtra—into its virtual bank Ascend Bank, despite a Bank of Thailand requirement to consolidate financial businesses. The proposal, driven by...
Southern Hotels Wary of Low Season
Hotel operators in Thailand’s southern provinces, especially Phuket and Krabi, are bracing for a low‑season revenue dip as the war in the Middle East depresses demand and triggers flight cancellations. April occupancy in Phuket lingered at 50‑60%, while the Middle...
Struggling to Decode Fog of War
The Strait of Hormuz crisis entered a new, volatile phase as Iran's IRGC seized two European tankers, pushing Brent crude above $106 per barrel. The IMF trimmed its global growth forecast to 3.1% and lifted inflation expectations to 4.4%, underscoring...
Office Outlines Various Scenarios for Exports
Thailand's Trade Policy and Strategy Office outlined three export scenarios for 2024, ranging from an 8% rise to a 3% contraction. The best‑case assumes AI‑driven demand and a de‑escalation of the Middle East conflict, projecting $367 billion in exports. The base...
Regional Equity Investors Find Little to Cheer
Thai equities remained under pressure as the SET index slipped 1.8% to 1,456.10 points, driven by foreign selling of 5.86 bn baht and concerns over an upcoming MSCI rebalance that could trim the market’s weight. Retail investors provided a modest cushion,...
Fuel Price Hikes Bite Thai AirAsia X Service
Thai AirAsia X is slashing flight frequencies to Tokyo, Osaka, Almaty and Delhi while suspending services to Shanghai and Riyadh until June 30. The airline attributes the cuts to soaring jet‑fuel prices driven by the US‑Israeli war on Iran, which has...
Eateries Face Rising Costs, Weak Outlook
Thai restaurant associations have signed a memorandum of understanding to pool purchasing power, secure fair‑price raw materials and deploy smart logistics, aiming to offset surging energy, ingredient and packaging costs. Vegetable prices have risen 10‑20%, while disposable plastic containers now...
War Risks, Rate Cuts Affect Thai Banks’ Margins
Thai banks posted modest profit growth in Q1 2024, but net interest income (NII) fell sharply as regional war risks and the Bank of Thailand’s rate cuts squeezed margins. Kasikornbank (KBank) reported a net profit of 14.6 billion baht (≈$410 million), up...
Caution Urged in Uncertain Market
The SCB Economic Intelligence Center warned Thailand’s residential developers to adopt a cautious stance on new launches as geopolitical tensions and soaring oil prices pressure construction costs and interest rates. It urged developers to prioritize projects in areas with low...
Thai EV Sales Set to Be Boosted by Trade-In Incentive
Thailand’s government is poised to introduce a car trade‑in incentive that mandates new vehicles be manufactured locally, a move aimed at accelerating the shift from internal‑combustion engines to electric and hybrid models. Omoda & Jaecoo, a Chery subsidiary, says the policy...
Higher Pay, Leaner Benefits Eyed for New Civil Servants
Thailand's Comptroller‑General Department is weighing a pay‑and‑benefits overhaul for new civil servants. Fiscal 2026 saw medical‑welfare spending climb to 64 billion baht (≈$1.8 billion), up 8.9 billion baht (≈$250 million) year‑on‑year, driven by over‑use of free health services. The proposal would raise entry‑level salaries...
Thailand Exposed to Widening War Impact
Thailand’s economy is increasingly vulnerable as the Middle East conflict drives up oil prices, prompting the IMF to lower its 2026 growth forecast to 1.5%. The country imports about 52% of its energy from the region, amplifying exposure to price...