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% of Thais still intend to travel, but most will stay within their own province, limiting tourism revenue. The consumer confidence index fell to 51.8 in March, the lowest level since October 2025, reflecting concerns over energy costs and living expenses. While political stability is improving, businesses remain wary of rising logistics and fertilizer costs.
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...
Treasury Mulls Overseas Coin Production as Costs Escalate
The Thai Treasury is weighing overseas production of its 1‑baht coins as minting costs have risen to nearly the coin’s face value. A new 99,999‑baht (~$2,857) gold commemorative coin for King Ananda Mahidol illustrates how soaring metal prices have pushed...
Stocks Under Pressure as Energy Crisis Bites
Thailand’s equity market faces pressure as diesel prices jump 69% to about 50.54 baht per litre (≈$1.53), tightening cost margins and threatening growth. Bualuang Securities forecasts the SET index to trade between 1,400‑1,500 points in April, with a downside to 1,340...
True Partnership Targets AI Adoption in Thai Companies
True Digital Academy has teamed up with global consultancy Thoughtworks to launch an AI‑first transformation program for Thai enterprises. The partnership introduces a turnkey framework built around the academy’s PromptSphere model, targeting people, technology, and business pillars. It blends curriculum...
Call for Jet Fuel Tax Break as Costs Soar
Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services (BAFS), Thailand's sole jet‑fuel provider, is urging the government to scrap the 4.72 baht ($0.13) per litre excise tax on jet fuel, saying it erodes the country’s aviation competitiveness. The levy, reinstated in 2023 after a pandemic...
Malaysia Airlines Seeks Hub Role for Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia Airlines is positioning Kuala Lumpur as a regional hub, adding three new routes to Fukuoka, Shenzhen and Changsha to capture strong East‑Asian demand. The airline resumed service to Fukuoka after a 20‑year hiatus and expects transit traffic from Southeast...
Office Eyes B40bn via Infrastructure Funds
Thailand’s state‑owned enterprises are set to raise more than 40 billion baht (about $1.1 billion) through newly created infrastructure funds, a move championed by the finance ministry to ease the country’s public‑debt burden. The State Enterprise Policy Office aims to launch around...
Rapid AI Evolution Collides with Sophisticated Scams
Thailand’s financial sector is moving into a "Banking 5.0" era where generative AI shifts from experiment to core infrastructure, accelerating automation, fraud detection and personalized services. Regulators, led by the Bank of Thailand, are deploying AI‑based supervision to shift oversight from...
Pundits Warn of Stagflation Risk
Thailand is confronting a growing stagflation threat as soaring global oil prices lift domestic fuel costs and inflation. Public debt has risen to 66% of GDP, near the 70% legal ceiling, curbing the new government’s ability to launch broad fiscal...
Thai CEOs' Revenue Confidence at 3-Year Low
Thai CEOs' confidence in revenue growth has plunged to just 24%, the lowest level in three years, down from 47% in 2023. Only 34% expect the domestic economy to improve, well below the 55% global average. While AI is generating...
Grab Ramps up EV Scheme Amid Energy Shocks
Grab Thailand is fast‑tracking its Grab EV programme by sealing nine strategic partnerships with manufacturers, rental firms, cooperatives and charging operators. The deals introduce end‑to‑end EV taxi rentals at 800 baht (~$23) per day, electric‑motorcycle rentals at 125 baht (~$3.5) per day, and...
Sustaining Success Across Generations
Thai family-owned enterprises, which underpin the nation’s economy, face a steep attrition rate across generations. Only about 30% transition to the second generation, 12% to the third, and a mere 3% survive to the fourth. SET chairman Kitipong Urapeepatanapong warns...
BBL Recommends Thai Businesses Mull Expansion to India
Bangkok Bank is urging Thai companies to diversify away from the United States and tap India’s massive market as geopolitical tensions rise. The bank’s president highlighted India’s strategic importance as a consumer base, investment hub, and supply‑chain partner. BBL pledged...
PTG Denies Fuel Profiteering Allegations
PTG Energy, a SET‑listed oil trader, rejected accusations that it hoarded diesel during Thailand’s government price cap of 29.94 baht per litre (about $0.81) and later sold it at higher prices. The company said it will not sue accusers, calling the...
Liquidity Pressures Rise in Thai Bond Market
Thailand’s corporate bond market faces a liquidity crunch as roughly $18.5 billion in bonds will mature over the next three quarters, according to the Thai Bond Market Association. While investment‑grade issues dominate, about $1.4 billion of lower‑rated and unrated debt is especially...
Oil Refineries in the Spotlight
Thailand’s cabinet is weighing several measures to cushion consumers from soaring global crude prices, but it stopped short of regulating the gross refining margin (GRM), the spread that drives retail fuel costs. The GRM, tied to Singapore’s Mean of Platts...
Mideast Uncertainty Keeps Pressure on Equities
Asian equities stayed under pressure as the Middle East conflict dampened optimism, though the Thai SET index nudged up 0.5% to 1,454 points, supported by net buying of roughly $126 million from brokerages. Oil price fears linger, with European policymakers warning...
Thai Regulator Tightens Market Oversight to Curb 'Grey Capital'
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission announced a crackdown on “grey capital”, mule accounts and investment scams, labeling it a national priority. The regulator will tighten customer due‑diligence, enforce faster disclosure for listed firms, and enhance tracking of money flows, especially...
CRC Sports Invests B200m in Expansion, Renovations
CRC Sports, the Supersports arm of Thailand's Central Retail Corporation, is allocating more than 200 million baht (about $5.6 million) to open two new stores and refurbish ten existing outlets this year. The first locations will debut in Central Khon Kaen Campus in May...
Scoot Bookings Strong Despite Gulf Strife
Scoot, Singapore Airlines' low‑cost arm, reported a 15% rise in inbound passenger traffic to Thailand and a 10% increase in outbound demand for the fiscal year ending March 2026, despite the Gulf war prompting a temporary suspension of its Jeddah...
SEC Bans Auditor After Stark Scandal
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand has revoked the capital‑market auditor licence of a Deloitte‑affiliated professional and imposed a six‑year ban after uncovering systemic audit failures at Stark Corp. The regulator also filed a criminal complaint with the Department...
True Shopping Shuts Amid Expanding Digital Reboot
True Shopping, the home‑shopping arm of joint venture True GS, announced it will shut down on April 1 after more than 14 years in operation. The closure reflects intensifying competition from fast‑growing e‑commerce and social‑commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada and TikTok. True GS...
Oil Turmoil Speeds up Thailand's Electric Shift
Surging oil prices triggered by Middle East tensions are prompting Thai consumers and banks to favor battery electric vehicles (BEVs) over traditional gasoline cars. Ford Thailand reports a 10% rise in BEV loan approvals while internal‑combustion engine financing fell 25‑30%...
CRC Expands via No Brand Tie-Up
Central Retail Corporation (CRC) has secured an exclusive master franchise with South Korea's Emart to operate No Brand grocery stores in Thailand. The first outlet opened at Central Bangna, featuring roughly 2,200 items with 70% Korean imports. CRC aims to roll...
Depleted Oil Fuel Fund to Apply for Loan
Thailand's Oil Fuel Fund, facing a 42.1 bn baht (≈$1.14 bn) deficit, is set to seek a loan of up to 40 bn baht (≈$1.1 bn) from commercial banks. The request follows the formation of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s new cabinet, which restores full borrowing...
Food Exports Poised to Drop by over 7%
Thai food exports are projected to fall 7.3% year‑on‑year to 1.4 trillion baht (about $39 billion), potentially hitting a five‑year low. The first quarter is expected to plunge 11.5% to 306 billion baht ($8.6 billion) as Middle‑East conflicts disrupt Gulf shipments and re‑exports via...
OR Expands EV Services Amid Oil Price Volatility
PTT Oil and Retail Business (OR) announced a $1.76 bn (58 billion baht) investment plan through 2030, earmarking up to $1.15 bn for its oil and electric‑vehicle (EV) operations. The company aims to expand its EV charging network to serve 7,000 motorists daily...
Line Man Preps for the Worst
Line Man Wongnai is bracing for a worst‑case energy scenario, saying it could impose a delivery surcharge if fuel prices climb another 9‑10 baht (about $0.28 per litre). The firm now expects online food‑delivery growth to slow to 15% instead of...
Stronger Baht Hurts Travel
Thailand’s baht hovering between 30 and 32 per U.S. dollar threatens tourism competitiveness, with a worst‑case scenario of a stronger baht (>30/USD) potentially eroding 15‑17% of revenue. The Thai Hotels Association projects Songkran holiday bookings to fall 5‑10% year‑on‑year as...
Pundits Fret over Oil Prices as War Widens
Houthi rebels have entered the Middle East war, raising concerns over oil supply disruptions. Brent crude rose to $116.75 per barrel and WTI topped $100 as the rebels threatened to close the Bab al‑Mandab strait, which handles about 6 million barrels...
AirAsia Still Confident Despite Price Pressures
AirAsia warns that fare hikes are inevitable as the Middle East conflict and global oil crisis push costs higher, but the carrier remains confident that regional travel demand will stay robust. It says passengers are opting for intra‑ASEAN trips instead...
Inside Swiss Hospitality Education: Where Global Luxury Leaders Begin
Switzerland’s Glion Institute of Higher Education, founded in 1962, remains a premier incubator for luxury hospitality talent as the industry shifts toward experience‑focused service. The school blends small‑class, multicultural learning with hands‑on exposure, including a Michelin‑starred restaurant and extensive internships....
AirJapan Bids Farewell to Thai Skies
AirJapan announced the termination of its Bangkok‑Narita route, with the final flight landing in Tokyo on Sunday. The carrier will cease all operations from Wednesday, and its parent ANA Group will reassign the aircraft to All Nippon Airways. While the...
AI Leadership in Southeast Asia: Rethinking How We Lead
Artificial intelligence has moved from future promise to present reality across Southeast Asia, prompting leaders to embed AI into every facet of their businesses. However, many executives are accelerating adoption faster than their organizations can adapt, creating a mismatch between...
Huge Mobile Bandwidth Increase Needed as AI Use Surges
Thailand’s two largest mobile operators, AIS and True, will each require at least 100 MHz of additional spectrum to handle a surge in AI‑driven data uploads. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) intends to fast‑track a 3,500 MHz spectrum auction, slated...
SMEs’ Loan Access to Improve
Thailand’s government unveiled a loan‑guarantee scheme to help small and medium‑sized enterprises acquire commercial pickup trucks, including electric models. The Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation will back loans up to 1.5 million baht (≈ $43,000) per borrower, with a total guarantee pool of...
Bangkok Airways to Raise Domestic Airfares by up to 20%
Bangkok Airways announced a 15‑20% increase in domestic airfares effective April 1 to offset soaring jet‑fuel costs and a 3% decline in second‑quarter forward bookings. Fuel now accounts for roughly 20% of the airline’s expenses, up from 16% last year, with...
Thailand Mulls Windfall Tax on Oil Refineries
Thailand’s Fiscal Policy Office is evaluating a windfall tax on oil refineries, a move prompted by the country’s heavy reliance on imported crude – about 92% of its supply. The proposed levy could be calculated either by applying a rate...
Epic Fury Oil Shock: Repositioning Your Portfolio for War
Operation Epic Fury, the US‑Israeli offensive against Iran, has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, choking roughly 20% of global crude oil flow and a host of other critical commodities. The closure also traps 22% of urea and ammonia, 24%...
Strategy Calls for Hub Luring Wealth Capital
Thailand’s Association of Investment Management Companies (AIMC) is pushing a private‑trust framework and new asset‑management legislation to turn the country into a regional hub for wealth capital, especially from the Middle East. The plan includes Singapore‑style tax incentives, a 10‑year...
Thai Factory Output Unexpectedly Dips in February, Could Rise in March
Thailand's manufacturing production index fell 0.04% year‑on‑year in February, missing a 2.4% Reuters poll forecast after a 1.64% rise in January. The dip was driven by temporary refinery maintenance that trimmed petroleum output and a slowdown in car production. Ministry...
Vietnam Suspends some Fuel Taxes to Stabilise Domestic Market
Vietnam's Finance Ministry announced a temporary suspension of environmental protection and special consumption taxes on gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, effective until April 15, to stabilise the domestic market. The tax holiday will cut state revenue by roughly 7.2 trillion dong (about...
Petroleum and Energy Institute of Thailand Denies Oil Refineries Profiting From War
The Petroleum and Energy Institute of Thailand (PTIT) refuted claims that local refineries are profiting from the Middle‑East war, noting that the gross refinery margin (GRM) of 6.31 baht per litre in March reflects higher input costs, not net profit....
Call for Measures to Restrain Fuel Price Hikes
The Thai Chamber of Commerce is urging the government to curb a recent 6 baht (~$0.16) per‑litre fuel price increase, warning it will raise production, logistics and consumer costs. It calls for securing sufficient crude‑oil supplies, even at premiums above global...
Thailand Vows to Host 1st Disneyland in Region
Thailand’s government is pushing to host the region’s first Disneyland within the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Capital City, designating about 2,700 rai—comparable to Shanghai’s park—for the project. Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has written to Walt Disney’s new CEO and highlighted...
Credit Outlook Steady as Fuel Subsidy Ditched
Thailand has ended its blanket fuel subsidy, raising pump prices by 6 baht (about $0.16) per litre. Analysts say the move removes a key trigger for a sovereign credit downgrade, but it also heightens stagflation risks as inflation could reach 3.2%...