Mideast Conflict May Delay Minor's REIT, IPO Plans
Minor International plans to launch a US$1.3 billion REIT and list its food business on the Singapore Exchange, shifting the IPO from Hong Kong to accelerate the process. The ongoing Middle East conflict has disrupted flight routes, raised airfares and contributed to a 2.3% drop in Thailand’s tourist arrivals, adding uncertainty for investors. Chairman William Heinecke says the war could delay the REIT and IPO timeline, though a second‑half launch remains possible if hostilities end soon. The company’s overseas exposure now exceeds 75% of its operations.
WHA Plans Dedicated Data Centre Estate
Industrial developer WHA Corporation is conducting a feasibility study for a dedicated data‑centre industrial estate in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor. The project aims to attract foreign data‑centre operators, requiring roughly 1,000 MW of green power and more than 100 rai of land....
Capital Flees Thai Stocks as Baht Continues to Decline
The Thai baht’s slide to a two‑month low of 32.92 per dollar and a US 10‑year Treasury yield above 4.56% have sparked capital outflows from the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Foreign investors sold roughly 11 billion baht (about $314 million) of Thai...
Pundit: Define Your Outcome, Then Use Tech
Thai officials warned that AI adoption should start with clear business outcomes, not blanket licence distribution. The government plans to spend more than 1.6 billion baht (about $45 million) on premium generative‑AI models for free access by up to five million citizens...
B200bn Energy Scheme Raises Concerns
Thailand plans to spend 200 billion baht ($5.6 bn) on rooftop solar systems and battery‑electric vehicles as part of its energy‑transition push. The funding represents half of a controversial 400 billion baht ($11.2 bn) emergency loan approved by the cabinet, and critics say the...
Food Delivery Market Heats up as Line Man Wongnai Cuts Fees
Line Man Wongnai announced a cut in its gross‑profit fee for merchants in the Thai Chuay Thai Plus scheme, lowering it from 15% to 10% to better compete with Grab’s 9% rate. The move comes as the company posted its...
Eateries Expected to Face Gloomy Third Quarter
The Thai restaurant sector faces a bleak third quarter as raw‑material, packaging and logistics costs rise 10‑15% while consumer spending stays weak. Fine‑dining establishments, exemplified by chef Thitid Tassanakajohn’s Le Du and Nusara, saw a 30% sales drop in May, compounded...
Regulator to Bolster Disaster Risk Management
Thailand’s Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) is drafting a national disaster insurance fund and a comprehensive disaster playbook to strengthen the country’s risk‑management framework. The fund will pool premiums and reinsurance capacity to cover catastrophic losses that exceed the...
Middle East Conflict Hits Hard Disk Drive Shipments
Thailand’s hard‑disk‑drive (HDD) exports to the Middle East are projected to fall 18% this year, shrinking to about US$79 million as the Iran‑related conflict disrupts maritime routes. The region represents only 1% of Thailand’s total HDD shipments, limiting the overall impact...
Gold Prices Down B1,450 to B67,500
Thai gold prices slipped on Saturday, with gold bars falling 1,450 baht (about $41) to 67,500 baht per baht‑weight. The Gold Traders Association set buying prices at 65,961 baht for ornaments and 67,300 baht for bars, while selling prices were 68,300 baht and 67,500 baht respectively....
Consumer Watchdog to File Civil Suit Against Volvo Cars' Thai Unit
Thailand’s Consumer Protection Board has approved 550 civil suits against Volvo Cars’ Thai subsidiary and its service arm, Scandinavian Auto Co Ltd, over battery‑related fires in the EX30 electric SUV. The first lawsuit seeks 1.2 million baht (about $36,750) in damages...
India's IndiGo Cuts Six International Routes, Including Krabi
India's largest carrier IndiGo announced it will suspend service to six international destinations—including Krabi, Langkawi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Siem Reap—starting July 1, with the Siem Reap flights ending July 3. The cuts are attributed to soaring jet‑fuel prices, airspace restrictions...
SCB X Tempers Gen 2 Growth Ambitions
SCB X, the fintech arm of Siam Commercial Bank, said it will keep loan growth for its Gen 2 digital finance businesses in the single‑digit range despite a 6% rise in the segment’s portfolio to 169 billion baht (about $4.7 billion) in Q1...
Food Producers Diversify Amid Climate Risks
Thai snack and food producers are reshaping their businesses as El Niño threatens crop yields. Lanna Agriculture Industry is moving beyond bulk edamame to processed snacks, chocolate‑coated fruit and a new Minnamame brand, while Sweet Bee Farm is expanding tamarind offerings...
VietJet Commits to New Aircraft Despite Turbulence
VietJet Thailand is forging ahead with an aggressive fleet renewal, ordering 50 Boeing 737‑8 jets to replace its Airbus A320/A321 fleet by 2028. The new aircraft have already cut fuel consumption by about 20% and helped lift on‑time performance above...