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. Compared with Friday’s close, both buying and selling rates dropped by roughly 2% across the board. The decline reflects broader currency and commodity dynamics affecting Thailand’s precious‑metal market.
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...
Thailand Sees 2% Growth and 3% Inflation in 2026: Central Bank Chief
The Bank of Thailand forecasts 2 percent GDP growth for 2026, with headline inflation around 3 percent, after April’s 2.89 percent spike. Growth is expected to ease to 1.7 percent in 2027 while inflation falls to 1.4 percent. Exports are projected to rise 12‑13 percent, potentially...
Insurance Premium Growth Blunted by Effect of War
The Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) warned that the Middle East war is dampening Thailand’s insurance premium growth as energy prices surge and reinsurance costs climb. Global reinsurers are tightening underwriting standards, which will raise claim expenses for non‑life...
EV Journey at a Crossroads
Thailand is accelerating commercial electric vehicle adoption, with pilot projects ranging from 12 electric buses in Kanchanaburi to electric taxis at Suvarnabhumi airport. The government plans to purchase 1,520 electric buses, with deliveries starting next year and continuing through 2028,...
EEC Office, VietJet Sign U-Tapao Repair Deal
The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Office has signed a memorandum of understanding with VietJet Group to conduct a feasibility study for a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre at U‑tapao airport in Rayong province. The initiative dovetails with Thailand’s $7.8 billion...
Grab Adds Perks for Co-Pay Scheme
Grab Thailand reduced its gross‑profit (GP) commission to 9%—more than a 50% cut—to lure merchants onto its “Thai Chuay Thai Plus” subsidy platform, backing the move with a marketing spend of roughly $8.1 million. Competitors Line Man Wongnai and ShopeeFood have also trimmed...
Vietnam Encourages Gulf Energy Investment
Vietnamese President Tô Lâm met Thai business leaders in Bangkok, urging Gulf Development Plc to deepen investment in Vietnam’s energy sector. He highlighted the need for projects that meet environmental, social‑responsibility, technology‑transfer and workforce‑training standards. Gulf’s CEO Sarath Ratanavadi pledged long‑term...
Ascend Bank Aims for July Launch
Ascend Bank, the virtual bank backed by Thailand's CP Group, is slated to launch in July, senior CP executive Suphachai Chearavanont announced. The rollout follows a June 19 mobile‑app debut by rival Clicx Bank, a joint venture of Krungthai Bank,...
Rising Inflation Fears Pressure Bullion Price
Gold prices fell to $4,387 an ounce, a two‑month low, as recent attacks in Iran heightened oil prices and revived expectations of tighter U.S. monetary policy. The Gold Traders Association projects bullion could dip to $4,200 per ounce, translating to...
CP Axtra Joins Forces with Ayala on Mall Strategy
CP Axtra Plc has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Ayala Corporation to enhance the development and management of Makro malls in Thailand. The partnership will initially target seven Makro locations, leveraging Ayala's experience from its 34‑mall portfolio across Southeast...
Housing Demand Recovering but Outlook Still Fragile
Thailand’s housing market showed early‑2026 signs of revival as residential transfers rose 11.2% year‑on‑year, though total transaction value grew only 3.1%, reflecting a shift toward lower‑priced homes. Government stimulus – including an extension of eased loan‑to‑value rules and fee cuts...
HSBC Eyes Chinese Clients in Thailand
HSBC Thailand announced a plan to add 50 new Chinese corporate clients each year, leveraging a surge in Chinese foreign direct investment that has risen from $16 billion to $58 billion since 2016. The bank has created a 17‑member Mandarin‑speaking “China META...
Why Our Workplaces Aren’t Working (Part 2)
In Part 2 of her series, Arinya Talerngsri argues that over‑reliance on “culture fit” creates homogenous teams that stifle new thinking. While similarity speeds decisions and reduces conflict, it narrows perspectives and slows innovation. She stresses that strong cultures should preserve...
Middle East Seat Capacity Plummets
Seat capacity on Middle East‑Thailand routes plunged 33.7% in May, dropping from 300,902 to 199,595 seats. Emirates trimmed Dubai‑Bangkok seats by 20%, Qatar halved its Doha‑Bangkok service, and Etihad cut Abu Dhabi‑Phuket capacity 30%. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is...
NESDC to Evaluate Land Bridge Project
Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has set up a sub‑committee to evaluate the feasibility of a Land Bridge linking the eastern and western coasts. The panel will review assumptions such as time savings from avoiding the Strait...
NT to Review Feasibility of Satellite Slot
National Telecom (NT) is racing to decide by year‑end whether to invest in a geostationary satellite for its 126°E orbital slot, a right it won for roughly $224,000. A feasibility review in June will weigh a $84 million build cost against...
Thailand Car Production Drops 0.44% Y/Y in April
Thailand's auto industry recorded its lowest production in five years in April, with output slipping 0.44% year‑over‑year to 103,794 vehicles. The decline was driven by export disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict and higher energy costs, resulting in an...
Thai April Exports Rise 23.1% Y/Y, Beats Forecast
Thailand’s customs‑cleared exports jumped 23.1% in April year‑on‑year, outpacing the Reuters‑poll forecast of 17.3%. The previous month had already posted an 18.7% rise, signaling a accelerating export momentum. Imports surged even faster, climbing 45% over the same period, widening the...
TrueOnline Unveils AI Smart Home Offerings
TrueOnline is pivoting from a traditional ISP to an AI‑driven smart‑home platform with the launch of TrueOnline Home Next. The offering combines high‑speed fibre broadband, the TrueX Home Hub, and a Thai‑language AI assistant named Ami that controls IoT devices. The...
Thai Aviation Faces Tougher Quarters
Thai airlines are confronting a sharp rise in jet‑fuel costs, with prices soaring to about $240 per barrel—a threefold jump from pre‑war levels. Low‑cost carriers have slashed capacity by roughly 20% year‑on‑year, while overall passenger volumes dropped 7% in early...
New Fed Chief Faces Immediate Pressure
Kevin Warsh, a former Fed governor known for hawkish views, has taken over as chair, succeeding Jerome Powell. Although nominated by President Trump to spur rate cuts, Warsh faces stubborn inflation—CPI at 3.8% in April—and an oil‑price surge from the...
Thai Airlines Grapple with Jet Fuel Surge
Thai airlines are feeling the squeeze of soaring jet fuel prices, which have jumped from 30‑35% to about 60% of operating costs by May. Bangkok Airways has trimmed low‑margin routes and is adding fuel‑efficient ATR‑72‑600s and possibly A319/A320s, while Thai...
Higher Electricity Prices to Hit Large Thai Families
Thailand's Energy Regulatory Commission will introduce a progressive electricity tariff in July, keeping rates for low‑consumption households capped at 3 baht per kilowatt‑hour (about $0.08) while raising costs for larger families and home‑based businesses. The move follows the end of...
Exim Bank Raises Export Growth Projection to 7%
The Export‑Import Bank of Thailand raised its 2026 export‑growth forecast to 7% after a 17% surge in first‑quarter shipments, up from a prior 2% outlook. It set a new lending target of 70 billion baht (about $2 billion) and expects total outstanding...
Economists Stress Inflation Warning for Thai Economy
Thai economists warn that rising inflation, driven by higher fuel and raw‑material costs, threatens the country’s fragile consumption and small‑business liquidity. The risk intensifies if the US‑Iran conflict drags on, keeping oil prices volatile and prompting other central banks to...
Co-Pay Unlikely to Help Big Eateries
The Thai government’s “Thai Chuay Thai Plus” co‑payment scheme subsidises 60 % of restaurant costs, capping the benefit at 200 baht ($5.7) per day and 1,000 baht ($28.6) per month from June to September. Eligibility is limited to non‑legal entities and small legal firms with revenue...
AirAsia Chief Slams Tax Hike for International Flyers
AirAsia co‑founder Tony Fernandes criticised Thailand’s Airports Authority for raising the passenger service charge (PSC) to 1,120 baht ($31) per international traveler, an increase of 390 baht ($11) effective June 20. He warned that higher fees, combined with a proposed 300‑baht...
World Built More Coal Power in 2025 but Used Less
In 2025 the world added 3.5% more coal‑power capacity, yet global coal generation slipped 0.6% as renewables expanded. The bulk of new capacity—95%—came from China and India, where generation fell despite the build‑out. The United States was the only major...
CPN Invests B3.8bn in New Khon Kaen Development
Thai retail real estate developer Central Pattana (CPN) announced a 3.8 billion baht (~$103 million) investment in a mixed‑use development in Khon Kaen, featuring its second shopping mall, a 33‑storey condominium tower, and a 75‑room Go! Hotel. The 62,000 sqm campus targets younger...
B20 Expansion Targets Energy Security Boost
Thailand is fast‑tracking the rollout of biodiesel B20, aiming to have the blend available at 1,000 filling stations within a month, up from the current 600. The fuel is sold at a retail discount of seven baht per litre (about...
RISE Brings Harvard-Backed AI Learning to Thailand
RISE, a regional corporate innovation consultancy, has signed a three‑year exclusive partnership with Harvard Business Impact to launch the AI‑driven learning platform HBR Spark for Thai executives. The initiative aims to boost Thailand’s GDP by 1 % by 2027 through innovation‑driven transformation...
Why Our Workplaces Aren’t Working
The article argues that most companies face a design flaw, not a talent shortage. Traditional hiring models prioritize experience and consistency, which suited stable eras but now hinder adaptation to rapid market and technological shifts. As a result, teams deliver...
Thailand Has a Password Problem
Thailand’s National Cyber Security Agency warned that weak and reused passwords remain a primary gateway for cyber‑attacks, citing a list of the “Top 20 Most Used Passwords” that includes simple strings like “123456” and “admin.” The agency highlighted that credential...
Bangchak Launches Thailand’s First Commercial SAF Production
Bangchak Group has launched Thailand’s first commercial Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production line, a 100% HEFA‑SPK stand‑alone unit at its Phra Khanong refinery. The plant converts used cooking oil into SAF and renewable diesel, completing a full feedstock‑to‑fuel ecosystem. The...
Thai Q1 GDP Grows 2.8% Y/Y, Above Forecast
Thailand’s economy expanded 2.8% year‑on‑year in Q1 2026, outpacing the Reuters median forecast of 2.2%. On a seasonally adjusted quarterly basis, growth was 0.7%, far above the 0.1% analysts expected. The National Economic and Social Development Council kept its 2026...
BBGI Touts Bio-LNG for Industry, Transport
Bangchak Biotechnology (BBGI) is fast‑tracking a $56 million bio‑LNG project at its ethanol plants in Kanchanaburi and Khon Kaen to supply Thailand’s industry and transport sectors. The company argues that domestically produced bio‑LNG can shield the economy from volatile imported LNG...
TFM Allots $55m for Ecuador Factory
Thai Union Feedmill Plc (TFM) will invest up to US$55 million to build a new shrimp processing plant in Ecuador, slated for completion in 2028. The facility is expected to lift TFM’s production capacity by roughly 80%, tapping Ecuador’s status as...
The Rise of Tokenisation
Thailand’s financial sector is gearing up for a disruptive shift as tokenisation and blockchain finance promise to convert stocks, bonds, gold, real‑estate and other assets into digital tokens within the next five years. Industry leaders argue that a unified blockchain...
Financially Weak Airlines at Risk From Rising Fuel Prices
Airlines with weak balance sheets and no fuel‑hedging strategies face heightened risk as jet fuel prices surge following the Iran conflict. Jet fuel, which makes up about 30% of airline operating costs, has more than doubled, prompting fare hikes and...
E-Commerce Platforms Defend Rising Fees
The Thai Digital Platform Trade Association (TDPA), formed by Grab, Lazada, Line Man Wongnai and Shopee, defended recent marketplace fee increases amid merchant complaints. It argued that early‑stage subsidies built a user base of 40‑50 million and that rising fees fund essential investments...
Clicx Prepares for Thai Virtual Bank Debut
Clicx Bank Plc, a joint venture of Krungthai Bank, AIS and PTT Oil & Retail, received its virtual‑bank licence from the Bank of Thailand on May 14 and plans to launch services next month, becoming the country’s first digital‑only bank. The...
Interest Decline Eases State Payment Burden
Thailand’s finance ministry says the declining interest‑rate environment is pulling the government’s interest‑payment burden down to about 10.2% of revenue, comfortably under the 12% threshold set by rating agencies. The government has secured a 400 billion baht ($11.2 bn) emergency loan, with...
Fuel Crisis Results in Fewer Flights for Thai Pilots
Thai pilots are feeling the squeeze as low‑cost carriers slash allowances by up to 30% and cut flight hours about 10% amid a fuel‑price surge tied to the Middle East conflict. All Thai airlines have trimmed schedules by 10‑20% and...
Netflix Touts Funding for Thai Content Creators
Netflix disclosed that it has poured more than $200 million into Thai content production between 2021 and 2024, backing over 20 original films and series. The investment has created roughly 13,500 jobs for local cast, crew, and ancillary workers. As of...
Discount Grocery Sales Go Mobile
Thailand’s government launched a mobile discount grocery program, using pickup trucks and motorcycles to deliver daily essentials at 10‑30% lower prices than traditional markets. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun unveiled the initiative, which targets remote areas...