Singapore to Ease Entry Rules for Thai, Chinese Workers
Singapore will relax entry requirements for Thai and Chinese construction workers starting 1 January 2027, eliminating the pre‑entry skills test. Employers will instead schedule and administer the test in Singapore after the workers arrive. The move addresses a growing labour shortfall as the city‑state accelerates building projects to boost liveability and its global‑city profile. The policy will be extended to workers from other countries in 2028.
Fitch Has Dour View for Thai Banks
Fitch Ratings downgraded its outlook for Thailand's banking sector, warning that earnings and asset quality could weaken in 2026 despite solid first‑quarter results. The six systemically important banks posted a modest rise in return on assets to 1.28% and kept...
Uniform Producer Keeps Prices Steady as Costs Rise
Thai uniform maker Nomjitt Manufacturing is holding 2026 school‑uniform prices steady even as raw‑material and logistics costs have risen 5‑10%. The company is absorbing the higher expenses for this academic year, but warns that 2027 pricing will depend on long‑term...
External Risks Linger as Index Increases
Thailand’s Manufacturing Production Index rose 0.75% year‑on‑year to 108.69 points in March, buoyed by a surge in automotive and petroleum output. The Bangkok International Motor Show drove a 71.8% jump in vehicle bookings, reaching 132,951 units, while the government’s EV3.5...
Stocks Fall in Asia After Fed Holds Interest Rate Steady
Asian equities slipped Thursday as the U.S. Federal Reserve kept its policy rate unchanged at 3.5‑3.75%, marking a third pause this year and reinforcing a higher‑for‑longer outlook. An 8‑4 vote revealed deep divisions within the Fed, the sharpest dissent in...
Domestic Travel Set to Slow for Long Holiday
Thai domestic tourism is expected to slow over the May 1‑4 long holiday as travelers tighten budgets amid high energy and living costs. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) projects 2.83 million local trips generating about 10.1 billion baht (~$283 million) in revenue, with...
BoT Chief Dismisses Worries on Stagflation
Bank of Thailand Governor Vitai Ratanakorn said Thailand is not heading toward stagflation, noting that inflation has not stayed persistently high. The Monetary Policy Committee projects headline inflation at 2.9% in 2026, easing to 1.5% in 2027, while GDP growth...
Oil Strikes 4-Year Peak, Stocks Rise
Oil prices surged to a four‑year high, with Brent crude briefly touching $126 a barrel as geopolitical tension over Iran escalated. President Donald Trump warned that a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports could extend for months, fueling fears of a...
US First-Quarter Growth Rebounds Less than Expected as Inflation Surges
U.S. gross domestic product expanded at a 2.0% annualized pace in Q1, falling short of the 2.2% consensus but well above the 0.5% rate recorded in the prior quarter. Growth was anchored by a sharp rebound in business investment, especially...
Bank of Thailand Keeps Interest Rate Unchanged
The Bank of Thailand left its one‑day repurchase rate unchanged at 1.00%, the lowest level in more than three years, after six consecutive cuts that shaved 150 basis points off the policy rate. The decision reflects concerns that higher oil...
Democrats Urge Trump to Keep Ban on Chinese Cars
Over 70 Democrats, led by Rep. Debbie Dingell, sent a letter urging President Trump to keep Chinese automakers out of the United States, warning of irreversible damage to jobs, supply chains and national security. The appeal comes just before Trump’s...
SCGD to Shut 2 Tile Plants Amid Cost Surge
SCG Décor Plc will shut two of its four ceramic‑tile factories in Thailand and suspend new tile investments in Vietnam as energy costs surge 20‑40% amid Middle‑East tensions. The move is part of a broader restructuring that includes boosting solar power...
Japanese Restaurants Expand Despite Dip
The Japanese restaurant sector in Thailand recorded its first decline since 2007, slipping 2.2% to 5,781 outlets in 2025. Bangkok’s count fell 2.3%, with surrounding provinces seeing drops of up to 3.1%. Despite the dip, operators such as Maguro Group...
Cabinet Backs B20bn Loan to Steady Fuel Prices
Thailand’s cabinet approved a 20 billion‑baht (≈ $540 million) loan for the Oil Fuel Fund Office to boost liquidity amid a global oil shock triggered by the US‑Israel war on Iran. The fund, already running a 53 billion‑baht (≈ $1.4 billion) deficit and 56 billion‑baht (≈ $1.5 billion) in...
GSB Targets Huge Increase in Low-Income Borrowers
Government Savings Bank (GSB) announced a plan to extend formal credit to an additional one million low‑income Thais, amounting to roughly 100 billion baht (about $2.7 billion). The initiative will be delivered through GSB’s network of over 1,000 branches, representing about 20%...
Gold Outlook Stalls Amid War Inflation
Gold prices slipped to $4,628.88 per ounce, a three‑week low, as war‑driven inflation dampens expectations of U.S. rate cuts. Analysts now project the Fed will keep the federal funds rate at 3.50‑3.75% through 2026, limiting gold's upside. The near‑term support...
Finance Ministry Cuts 2026 Growth Forecast to 1.6% Due to Middle East War
Thailand’s Ministry of Finance cut its 2026 GDP growth forecast to 1.6% from 2.0% after the Middle East war raised energy costs and disrupted trade. The ministry lifted its export growth outlook to 6.2% for the year, up from a...
Thai AirAsia Adjusts, Scraps Flights as High Fuel Prices Bite
Thai AirAsia announced a two‑month reduction in flight frequencies and a 30% cut in seat capacity as jet fuel prices have more than tripled following the Middle East conflict. The carrier will suspend most domestic routes from Suvarnabhumi, keeping only...
True, OYMotion Pioneer Neuro AI Technology
True Corporation’s Research and Innovation Centre has teamed with neuro‑tech firm OYMotion to create a neuro‑AI platform that translates brain signals into commands for smart devices and prosthetics, aiming to accelerate rehabilitation. The system combines brain‑computer interface sensors, AI‑driven signal...
Refund Crisis as More Flights Are Cancelled
The Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) has lodged a formal request with Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority, urging the government to compel airlines to fully refund tour operators for losses incurred after abrupt flight cancellations. Airlines have been scaling back or...
Car Market Posts Growth in March
Thailand’s domestic car market accelerated in March, with sales up 7 % year‑on‑year to 59,865 units, driven by strong electric‑vehicle demand. The Bangkok International Motor Show contributed 132,951 bookings, where battery EVs represented 60 % of orders and BYD led with 17,354...
Investors Revert Back to 'Risk-On' Mode
Investors are moving back into a “risk‑on” stance, shifting focus from US‑Iran tensions to macroeconomic signals and policy direction. Oil‑price volatility has eased and derivatives data point to medium‑term crude softening despite recent spikes. Central banks in the West are...
State Procurement Touts Digital Projects
Thailand’s finance minister announced that public procurement, which accounts for roughly 10% of the country’s GDP, will now prioritize digital innovation and green initiatives. The Comptroller General’s Department will upgrade the e‑GP platform to streamline lending to SME contractors and...
Govt to Rebalance Trade with the US
Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee Suthumpun reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to deepen trade and investment ties with the United States after talks with US Ambassador Sean O’Neill. The government is pushing forward an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, addressing US Section 301 concerns and...
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...
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...
Trade Experts Outline Thai Export Scenarios
Thailand's Trade Policy and Strategy Office outlined three export scenarios for 2024, ranging from an 8% gain to a 3% contraction, driven by geopolitical tensions, global growth and inflation. In the best‑case, AI‑related electronics could lift exports to $367 billion, while...
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...
President Allots B1bn for New Flour Mill
President Bakery, a SET‑listed Thai bakery group, will invest roughly 1 billion baht (about $28 million) to build a new flour mill in Bang Pakong, Chachoengsao. Construction begins mid‑2026 and the plant, with a 250‑tonne‑per‑day capacity, should be operational by 2028. Despite...
Turning AI Ambition Into Results
A study by ST Telemedia Global Data Centres and Ecosystm surveyed over 600 professionals across nine Asian countries, revealing that only 16% of organisations have operational AI strategies backed by robust infrastructure and just 1% have fully embedded AI. Thailand...
Central Group Deepens European Push
Central Group reported €6.3 bn (≈$6.9 bn) in sales last year, marking 15 years of steady European expansion. The conglomerate unveiled a new European leadership team, appointing Pierluigi Cocchini as CEO of Europe and Giuseppe D’Amato as chief commercial officer. It is...
Fuel Surcharges Jump as Airlines Tighten Schedules
Rising jet‑fuel prices have forced airlines in Thailand to slash capacity and double fuel surcharges. The International Air Transport Association reports global jet‑fuel averaging $184.63 per barrel, a 105% year‑on‑year increase, while Japan Airlines and ANA lifted Thai‑route surcharges to...
Industrial Land Prices Flat as Chinese Investors Sell Up
Industrial land prices in Thailand held steady in Q1 2026 as Chinese investors flooded the market with second‑hand plots after regulatory crackdowns halted their leasing or self‑use plans. The average asking price stayed at 8.3 million baht per rai (about $252,000), unchanged...
Plastic Supply Dubbed Stable
Thailand’s Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has identified five key plastic product categories—containers, food‑service bags, carrier bags, garbage bags, and agricultural packaging—for initial supervision. Industry players report that plastic pellet and packaging supplies remain ample, projected to last through July...
Wary Response to Borrowing Plan
Thailand’s government is poised to issue an emergency decree to borrow roughly 500 billion baht (about $14 billion) and raise the public‑debt ceiling from 70% to 75% of GDP. Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said a legal review is under way to determine...
Gasoline Users Left Out of Fuel Price Cut
Thailand’s Oil Fuel Fund Office cut retail diesel to 41.70 baht per litre (about $1.17), a 1.2 baht ($0.03) reduction, while gasoline and gasohol prices remain unchanged at roughly 10.85 baht ($0.30) per litre. The move follows a sharp decline in global crude...
Venture Launches Alcohol Detection System
Mobile Innovation Co Ltd and Human Technologies (Thailand) have launched the Trac Online Alcohol Checker, a cloud‑based SaaS solution that ties breath‑alcohol testing to GPS‑tracked employee check‑ins and identity verification. The system supports Thailand’s upcoming 2025 Road Safety Law by...
Thailand Plans Law to Borrow B500bn and Lift Debt Ceiling
Thailand’s government is preparing an emergency decree to borrow up to 500 billion baht (approximately $13.5 billion) to address tight cash balances and rising external risks. Public debt currently sits at about 66% of GDP, close to the existing 70% ceiling, prompting...