Vietnam Plans to Extend Fuel Tariff Suspension, Extend Tax Incentives for EVs
Vietnam's Finance Ministry will extend the suspension of import tariffs on fuels until June 30, a measure aimed at stabilising domestic production amid an uncertain Middle East conflict. The extension will cost the state roughly 2.02 trillion dong (about $77 million) in lost revenue. The ministry also plans to pause tariffs on naphtha, reformate and condensate for the same period. In parallel, the government seeks to prolong the special consumption tax cut for electric vehicles through 2030, after a dramatic rise in EV sales to nearly 175,000 units last year.
Request for Proposal (RFP)
Ratchaburi Power Company Limited (RPCL), a 1,400 MW independent power producer in Thailand, has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a long‑term diesel fuel supply. The contract is slated to start on 1 November 2026 and run through 30 June 2033, covering the plant’s...
HPE Unveils Thai IT Infrastructure Tie-Up
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has partnered with Thailand's VST ECS to launch VST ECS Co‑Location As‑a‑Service, a managed, usage‑based IT infrastructure platform. The offering bundles HPE servers, storage and computing with Veeam, Fortinet and Kaspersky security tools, targeting system integrators and VST ECS...
Metthier Rolls Out Robots at Suvarnabhumi
Metthier, the smart facility‑management arm of SKY Group, will install three humanoid robots at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport by the end of 2024 to guide passengers and handle tasks like luggage assistance. The robots are being developed through a joint venture...
OR Launches Self-Service Fuel Pilot
PTT Oil and Retail Business (OR) has begun a market test of self‑service fuel stations, offering a 0.40 baht per litre discount (about $0.011) for drivers who refuel without an attendant. The pilot, launched in early April, currently covers 11 stations...
Petrol Station Night Curfew Considered for Motorists
Thailand’s cabinet is weighing a nightly curfew on petrol stations, limiting sales from 10 pm to 5 am. The move, announced by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, seeks to heighten public awareness of tight oil supplies and soaring prices while avoiding disruption for essential...
Natural Gas Key to Growth
Natural gas remains a cornerstone of Thailand’s energy mix, supplying about 60% of electricity and accounting for 70% of domestic gas sources. State oil giant PTT Plc aims to become a global‑scale LNG trader, targeting 10 million tonnes of trade by...
Spectre of Stagflation Haunts Thailand
Thailand’s economy is wobbling after the Songkran break as energy price freezes end and inflation pressures rise. Analysts warn Q2 inflation could climb to 3‑4% while GDP growth stalls around 1%, creating a mild stagflation risk. The new government may...
SEC Sets Out Key Market Reforms for 2026
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for 2026 aimed at strengthening market resilience, expanding capital‑raising supply, and restoring investor confidence. Core initiatives include fast‑tracking the Thai Individual Savings Account to spur long‑term savings, streamlining IPO and cross‑listing...
GH Bank Rolls Out B4bn Mortgage Scheme for Elderly
Thailand’s Government Housing (GH) Bank has launched a 4 billion baht ($112 million) mortgage programme aimed at seniors aged 50 and above. The scheme splits into two tracks: a 1 billion baht ($28 million) fund for buyers of second‑hand homes with rates as low...
Cancelled Flights Dent Outbound Market
Thai airlines are slashing capacity on several international routes, including Bangkok‑Sapporo and China, as fuel costs rise and demand weakens. The cuts could shrink outbound travel by 15‑20% year‑on‑year during the low‑season summer schedule and trim overall outbound trips by...
Heatwave Boon for Beverage Makers
Thai beverage makers are poised for a sales lift as the climate shifts toward El Niño, bringing hotter, drier weather that historically spikes demand. Analysts cite the 2023 El Niño period as a benchmark for expected volume growth this summer. However, rising...
Thailand Banks on EU Trade Deal
Thailand is accelerating negotiations on an EU‑Thailand free‑trade agreement as the EU finalised a landmark FTA with India. Eight rounds of talks have produced agreements on trade remedies, public‑health exceptions and market‑access rules, bringing the total to 11 of 24...
Thailand Driving E-Commerce Growth
Thailand’s e‑commerce market exploded in 2025, posting a 51.8% year‑on‑year jump to $35.5 billion in gross merchandise value. The surge outpaced all Southeast Asian peers and cemented the country as the region’s fastest‑growing digital commerce hub. Shopee, TikTok Shop and Lazada...
Enconfund Revs up Energy Projects
Thailand’s Energy Conservation and Promotion Fund (Enconfund) is shifting from pure research support to commercial‑scale deployment, targeting projects like waste‑to‑oil and green hydrogen. The fund, financed by a 0.05 baht per litre levy, holds roughly 10 bn baht ($300 M) and spends 5‑9 bn...
SCB X Focuses on Tech as Conflict Drives up Costs
SCB X, the fintech arm of Siam Commercial Bank, has locked in low‑cost technology investments before the Middle East conflict drove up global prices for AI, cloud and data‑center services. CEO Arthid Nanthawithaya said the group will continue an AI‑first investment...
New Rules to Boost Data Centre Power
Thailand's Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) finalized draft rules that require investors in data centres to post bank guarantees or collateral of 4.5 million baht (about $122,000) per megawatt of power purchased. The measure, aimed at preventing projects from shifting to rival...
Tourism Sector Seeking Clear Policies
Thai tourism operators warned that government policies remain vague, leaving SMEs burdened by debt and rising energy costs. They urged the administration to stabilize commodity prices, resolve debt, and expand high‑value tourism through green, wellness and short‑haul markets. Officials also...
Fuel Crisis Upends State's Fiscal Plans
Thailand’s Finance Ministry warns that the ongoing energy crisis could force a rewrite of its 2027‑2030 medium‑term fiscal plan. A $4.3 bn (150 billion baht) loan guarantee for the Oil Fuel Fund may lift public debt by roughly one percentage point of...
Agency Raises Diesel Price Ceiling in Cost Formula
Thailand's Comptroller General's Department lifted the diesel price ceiling used in public‑construction reference price formulas to 69.99 baht per litre (about $2), up from the previous 50.99 baht (~$1.4). The adjustment reflects soaring fuel costs tied to the Middle‑East war...
Ministry Mulls Shelving Fuel Loan
Thailand's Energy Ministry is reconsidering a planned 150 billion baht (~$4.2 bn) loan to shore up its Oil Fuel Fund after successful talks with six refineries cut the ex‑refinery diesel price by 2 baht per litre. The fund, which recorded a 60 billion...
K-Research Foresees Stagflation Risk in H2
Kasikorn Research Centre warns that Thailand could slip into stagflation in late Q2 or early Q3 2024 as businesses restock amid persistently high oil prices. K‑Research projects oil to average $90 per barrel in 2026, with short‑term spikes above $100....
Fertiliser Supply Set to Last Until May
Thailand's Commerce Minister says the nation’s fertiliser inventory will sustain the market until May, with no producers currently seeking price hikes. The government is actively courting new sources, including the Middle East and Russia, after earlier imports from Malaysia and...
Initiative Aims to Update Farming Data Landscape
Thailand’s National Statistical Office, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, has launched the One Data initiative to unify the country’s fragmented agricultural statistics. The project will integrate data from twelve agencies into a single, standardised platform, beginning with a focus...
Fresh Digital Plan to Fortify Thailand
Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) has launched a comprehensive overhaul of its five‑year National Action Plan, slated for rollout after 2027, to serve as the nation’s central digital connectivity hub. The reform includes transferring the Digital Government...
Tao Bin 'Copycat' Found Registering Trademark in Vietnam
The Vietnamese Department of Intellectual Property flagged a trademark application that closely copies Thailand’s Tao Bin smart‑beverage vending‑machine brand. It advised Forth Vending Co Ltd, the brand owner, to file an opposition within the statutory 60‑90‑day window. The detection came through...
Russians Looking to Increase Exports to Thai Market
Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev announced a drive to boost Russian agricultural exports to Thailand after meeting Thai Agriculture Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit. Bilateral trade in food and farm products grew over 15% last year, and Thailand is negotiating up...
Garena Targets Thailand for Gaming Investment
Garena is deepening its Thailand focus by expanding e‑sports, creator systems and localized content to keep Gen Z users engaged and protect Free Fire’s mobile‑action lead. Thailand’s gaming market grew at a 7.5% CAGR from 2018‑2025, reaching roughly 36.5 billion baht (about $1 billion)...
Rule Change Could Encourage Insurers to Increase Equity Holdings
Thailand’s Office of Insurance Commission lowered the equity risk charge for domestic stocks from 25% to 18% under its risk‑based capital framework. The reduction eases capital constraints for life and non‑life insurers, allowing larger allocations to equities while preserving regulatory...
GH Bank Aims to Elevate Operations with Digital Upgrade
GH Bank, Thailand’s state‑owned housing lender, is launching a digital transformation under new CEO Mahatma Ampornpisit, built around five strategic pillars that embed AI, data analytics, and employee development. The plan seeks to accelerate loan processing, improve asset quality, personalize...
S&P Warns of Rising Corporate Credit Stress
S&P Global warns that Thailand could become one of the hardest‑hit economies if the Iran conflict drags on, as higher input costs and supply disruptions tighten corporate finances. Highly leveraged firms carry roughly 6 trillion baht (about $162 billion) in debt, representing 17%...
South Korean Airlines Make Changes to Thai Flights
South Korean low‑cost airlines are slashing Thai services as jet‑fuel prices surge amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. T'way Air will trim its Bangkok‑Incheon schedule to two weekly flights after May 10 and has lifted its passenger fuel surcharge from 1,900...
Longer-Term Impacts From War Constrain SET
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) experienced extreme volatility in March after Israel and the United States began bombing Iran, triggering a circuit‑breaker when the index dropped 8% on March 4. Oil prices surged nearly 40%, sending diesel to over 50 baht...
Thailand Targets Major Investment Reform
Thai Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas warned that the current global energy crisis is Thailand's last chance to overhaul its investment framework. Domestic investment has slipped to just 24% of GDP, down from 40% before the 1997 crisis, leaving the export‑driven...
Thai Export Pain Set to Continue Despite Mideast Truce
Thai export growth is expected to stall at 0‑1% this year as the Middle East conflict disrupts supply chains and dampens demand in key markets. The partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian tolls raises shipping costs, while...
Minister Lays Out Higher Education Innovation Vision
Thailand’s Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Yodchanan Wongsawat, unveiled an eight‑pillar strategy to secure technological sovereignty and position the country as a global hub for semiconductors and photonics. The plan integrates AI, quantum computing, and green energy...
Gulf Allays Concerns over LNG Supplies
Gulf Development Plc, Thailand’s largest energy firm, said its LNG supply remained stable despite recent spot‑price spikes caused by the Strait of Hormuz closure and disruptions in Qatar’s exports. The company has diversified its gas purchases, notably sourcing from Nigeria,...
Resilient SET Index Pushes Above 1,500 Points
Thailand’s SET Index rebounded past the 1,500‑point level, closing at 1,506.84 on Friday – a 3.6% weekly gain and a 15% year‑to‑date rise that outpaces most regional peers. Daily turnover averaged 52.18 billion baht (≈ $1.46 billion), with foreign investors accounting for 53.8%...
NBTC to Embed OTT Oversight in Plan
Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) reached a consensus that it has the authority to regulate over‑the‑top (OTT) platforms and will embed this oversight in its 2026‑2030 Broadcasting and Television Master Plan. After a five‑hour board debate, the regulator...
Commission Okays Drone Regulation Reforms
Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) approved four draft notifications on April 7 to broaden drone spectrum use, raise technical standards, and tighten operational oversight. The new rules replace visual‑line‑of‑sight limits with provisions for beyond‑visual‑line‑of‑sight (BVLOS) missions, logistics, surveillance and...
Securities and Exchange Commission Ramps up Crackdown on Investment Scams
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has stepped up its crackdown on investment scams as reports show a 71% year‑on‑year surge in fraudulent activity during the first quarter, with 3,473 incidents logged. Scammers are exploiting social‑media platforms such as Line,...
Merkle Anticipates Bitcoin Rebound in Q2
Merkle Capital forecasts a Bitcoin rally in the second quarter of 2026 as geopolitical tensions ease and risk appetite returns. The firm warns that a sustained Middle‑East conflict pushing oil above $100 per barrel could trigger a broad sell‑off across...
EGATi Moves to Relax Legal Barriers on Investments
EGATi, the wholly owned subsidiary of Thailand’s state electricity generator EGAT, is proposing to relax legal rules that require cabinet approval for investments where it holds more than 25% of a venture. The change would allow the company to obtain...
Sugar Prices to Rise in May Amid Soaring Costs
Thai Sugar Millers Corp (TSMC) will hold retail sugar prices steady through April but raise them in May as energy, petrochemical and packaging costs surge. A 40% jump in plastic‑pellet prices has driven bag costs sharply higher, adding hidden expenses...
Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation Unveils Loan Scheme for Micro SMEs
The Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG) has rolled out a loan‑guarantee program worth 10 billion baht (about $280 million) to help micro‑SMEs cope with Thailand’s energy crisis. Guarantees range from 10,000 baht to 1 million baht per borrower, with fees waived for the first...
Songkran Spending Set to Fall This Year
The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce trimmed its Songkran festival spending forecast to as low as 120 billion baht (about $3.4 bn), down from 129.6 billion baht (~$3.7 bn), citing higher diesel prices and waning consumer confidence. A recent survey shows 67%...
Gold Climbs to Near Three-Week High After US, Iran Agree to Ceasefire
Gold surged to a near three‑week high, trading at $4,783.78 per ounce, after the United States and Iran announced a two‑week cease‑fire and opened talks on a permanent peace. The cease‑fire sent oil prices tumbling more than 13% below the...
Middle East War: Global Economic Fallout
A two‑week US‑Iran cease‑fire has reopened the Strait of Hormuz, allowing the first two merchant vessels to transit and prompting a sharp drop in oil and gas prices. Iran’s drone strikes on Kuwait’s power, desalination and oil facilities underscore the...
Jet Fuel Supply Could Take Months to Recover After Hormuz Reopening
IATA director general Willie Walsh warned that even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, jet‑fuel supply will take months to normalize because Middle East refining capacity remains disrupted. Crude prices fell below $100 per barrel after a U.S.–Iran cease‑fire pledge,...
Thai Manufacturers to Get New Assistance Package
Thailand's newly appointed Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa announced a package to help manufacturers cope with rising energy costs and supply‑chain disruptions, while pushing the sector toward greener production under the bio‑circular‑green (BCG) model. The government will review non‑essential projects, accelerate...