Economy News
Thailand economy news, business updates, financial markets, and government policies—stay informed on economic developments shaping the nation. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for Thailand economic news.
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Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...
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Bank of Thailand tackles mule account freeze impact
The Bank of Thailand has acknowledged that the suspension of mule accounts could impact a significant number of people. Discussions with the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) and commercial banks are underway to devise a way to unlock legitimate accounts not linked to mule activities. Yesterday, on September 13, Daranee Saeju, assistant governor of the Bank of Thailand, responsible for…
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Thailand lifts afternoon booze ban to boost restaurants
Thailand has lifted its decades-old afternoon alcohol ban, a move welcomed by restaurants that expect higher sales and a boost to tourism and the economy. Today, September 11, Sorathep Rojpojchanarat, president of the Restaurant Business Association and honorary adviser to the Thailand Hostel Association, praised the move and thanked both the former administration and opposition parties for “listening to the…
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Grab backs Thai co-payment scheme to boost food sector
Food delivery companies have voiced support for a government plan to revive a co-payment scheme aimed at boosting restaurant sales and the wider economy. Industry leaders say the programme, previously credited with boosting small restaurant sales by up to five times, could offer vital relief as the economy slows. Chantsuda Thananitayaudom, managing director of Grab Thailand, confirmed the company’s full…
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China slowdown drags Thailand tourist arrivals down 7%
Thailand recorded a decline in foreign tourist arrivals and revenue as the tourism ministry reported fewer visitors from key markets, led by China and Malaysia. Thailand welcomed 21.88 million international visitors between January and August, according to data released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The figure represents a 7.16% drop compared with the same period last year, with revenue…
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Thai car production slumps as debt and tariffs bite
The Thai automotive sector continues to face challenges this year, with total car production declining by 5.73% year-on-year in the first seven months, impacting employment in car manufacturing plants. Between January and July, 835,331 units were produced. In July alone, manufacturing reached 110,616 units, marking an 11% decrease compared with the previous year, according to the Federation of Thai Industries…
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Thai government approves economic relief for border regions
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has approved a set of economic relief initiatives proposed by the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) to support communities impacted by recent disturbances at the Thai-Cambodian border. The communities in need are located in the provinces of Trat, Chanthaburi, Sa Kaeo, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket, and Ubon Ratchathani. After discussions with TCC Chairman Poj…
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Tough times hit Thai cinema as viewers cut back
Box office blues could be looming for Thai cinemas as cash-strapped moviegoers become pickier about what’s worth their ticket money. That’s the concern from top Thai studio GDH 559 Co Ltd Content Director Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn, who said the sluggish economy is making audiences more selective—possibly reducing their cinema visits from several times a month to just once. “Viewers may think…
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Thailand splashes billions on freight train mega-upgrade
Thailand’s freight trains are about to get a serious upgrade—to the tune of 2.46 billion baht. The Cabinet has approved a massive procurement plan for 946 brand-new container flatcars for the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), aimed at modernising the country’s outdated rail freight infrastructure and keeping pace with booming logistics demands. SRT Governor Veeris Ammarapala confirmed the project will…
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Thaksin pushes for high EV tax to protect Thailand’s car industry
Could the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) be putting Thailand’s homegrown auto industry at risk? Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra thinks so, and he’s pushing for drastic tax changes to protect local manufacturers from foreign competition. Thaksin has called for a high excise tax to be imposed on imported EVs that contain minimal local content, in a bid to protect Thailand’s…
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Trump slashes Thai tariffs to 19% – but is there a catch?
US President Donald Trump has stunned Thailand and the wider ASEAN region by announcing a sharp cut in import tariffs on Thai goods, slashing rates from 36% to 19%. The decision, made public yesterday, July 31, via the former US president’s Truth Social platform, came just hours before an executive order was signed, locking the deal in from today, August…
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Thai govt unleashes 87 billion baht to jolt economy
Thailand’s government is throwing billions at the economy in a high-stakes bid to spark recovery before time runs out. With just two months left in the fiscal year, the Budget Bureau has unleashed 87.36 billion baht to fund 148 urgent economic stimulus projects, according to Deputy Finance Permanent Secretary Theerarak Saengsanit. The hefty injection accounts for 75.72% of the 115…
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Rushin’ back! Russian tourists flock to Thailand despite global turmoil
Russian tourists are packing their bags for Thailand in droves — and not even US sanctions, global instability, or stiff competition from Vietnam can stop them. Despite threats from US President Donald Trump to slap a 100% tariff on Russian goods unless peace is brokered in Ukraine, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says the Russian market is still on…
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Banking on trouble: SCB scales back as storm brews in Thailand
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) is battening down the hatches and scaling back its operations for the next 12 to 18 months, warning of tough times ahead as Thailand’s economy hits choppy waters. SCB Chief Executive Kris Chantanotoke painted a bleak picture of the months to come, blaming soaring household debt, sluggish growth, and the threat of US tariffs for the…
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Thailand pushes China to fast-track fruit and rice exports
Thailand is turning up the heat on China to help fast-track its tastiest exports—from sweet tamarinds to juicy pomelos—in a high-stakes trade push aimed at cracking the world’s biggest consumer market. The Ministry of Commerce is pulling out all the stops to promote Thailand’s prized Geographical Indication (GI) products in China, urging Beijing’s top trade agency to speed up the…
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Electricity rates review set as Thailand aims to cap prices
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will gather public input on the new electricity rate for the upcoming September to December period, the last quarter of this year. This initiative, scheduled for today, aims to ensure electricity prices align with government policies. Yesterday, July 16, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy Prasert Sinsukprasert announced that the ERC will open discussions…
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Farm fury erupts as US trade demands threaten Thai agriculture
Thailand is under mounting pressure as trade talks with the United States teeter on the edge of crisis, with farmers warning that Washington’s demands could devastate local agriculture and threaten national food security. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira confirmed today, July 16, that negotiations remain deadlocked as the US pushes Thailand to slash tariffs on pork, chicken,…
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Sticker shock: Thai food prices soar 106% as wages lag behind
Eating out in Bangkok is becoming a luxury few can afford, with research revealing Thai food prices have more than doubled in just over a decade, while wages have barely kept pace. A new study by the Agency for Real Estate Affairs (AREA) has revealed that the cost of food in Thailand has skyrocketed by 106.5% over the past 13…
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Fiscal 2025 revenue set to miss target amid economic slowdown
Revenue collection for the government’s fiscal year 2025 is anticipated to fall short of its target due to an economic slowdown, according to Finance Permanent Secretary Lavaron Sangsnit. From October 2024 to May 2025, net revenue amounted to 1.7 trillion baht, which is 12.7 billion baht, or 0.7%, below the target, though it is 1.7% higher compared to the same…
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Finance minister reveals final contenders to lead Bank of Thailand
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira confirmed yesterday that he has officially signed off on his nominee to lead the Bank of Thailand (BoT) and submitted the selection to the Cabinet for consideration today. Speaking to reporters, Pichai made it clear he had no reservations about collaborating with whichever candidate ultimately gets the nod. “Whoever is selected, I’ll…
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Home lottery bonanza: 5,000 cheap Thai homes up for grabs
The Ministry of Transport has announced plans to launch a lottery system to allocate the first phase of 5,000 affordable housing units under the ambitious Home for Thais scheme. If approved, the project will see residents moving into their new homes by late 2026. Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote revealed that following the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding…
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Bank of Thailand dismisses deflation fears despite low inflation
Economists are increasingly concerned about potential deflationary trends but the Bank of Thailand (BoT) asserts there are no definitive signs of deflation despite ongoing low inflation. At a monetary policy forum on Wednesday, July 9, Surach Tanboon, senior director of the central bank’s monetary policy department, stated that the bank has not identified any signals of deflation, although inflation remains subdued.…
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Sweet crisis: Thailand races to rescue record longan harvest
Thailand’s mountains of sweet, golden longans are about to become a blessing and a headache all at once. Agriculture Minister Atthakorn Sirilattayakorn has ordered an all-hands-on-deck operation to tackle a record-breaking longan crop that’s expected to flood markets and risk crashing prices in the coming months. Speaking after chairing the first Policy Committee on Quality Longan Production Management meeting of…
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Thailand’s quiet bond with South Sudan takes off
Thailand has been quietly deepening its ties with Africa’s youngest nation, South Sudan, blending trade, peacekeeping, and even a dash of royal philosophy. Although diplomatic relations between the two countries remain limited—largely because South Sudan only gained independence in 2011—recent developments show that Thailand sees real opportunity in this far-flung relationship. The first formal step came on December 5, 2013,…
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Bacon backlash: Cheap US pork threatens Thai farmers
Thailand’s pig farmers are squealing in protest, warning the government that a flood of cheap American pork could cripple the nation’s entire agricultural sector and push thousands into poverty overnight. Yesterday, July 7, the National Swine Raisers Association (NSRA) issued a fiery statement urging officials to abandon any plans to open Thailand’s market to pork, offal and related products from…
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Thai US tax talks stall as Vietnam races ahead
Thailand’s hopes of clinching a breakthrough tax agreement with the United States have hit a stumbling block, leaving officials scrambling for solutions—and exporters nervously watching from the sidelines. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira admitted yesterday, July 4, that the much-anticipated deal remains out of reach despite days of high-level negotiations in Washington. Speaking during a stopover in…
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Wage war: Hotels reel as 400-baht mandate hits hard
The government’s new minimum wage hike has sparked outrage among hoteliers already hanging by a thread. While Bangkok politicians celebrate, many in the provinces are calling it a death sentence for small businesses. On Tuesday, July 1, the Cabinet approved raising the daily minimum wage for hotel workers nationwide to 400 baht, with the decision fast-tracked into law via the…
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Bangkok Bank backs Thai businesses entering Indonesia’s market
Bangkok Bank (BBL) is prepared to aid Thai medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to expand into Indonesia, where there is significant potential across various supply chain industries. During the 2025 Indonesia Investment and Trade Forum, hosted by Bangkok Bank and its Indonesian affiliate Permata Bank, BBL president Chartsiri Sophonpanich highlighted Indonesia’s promising economic and social prospects. The country’s GDP per capita…
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Thai Cabinet expands eligibility for ‘You Fight, We Help’ debt relief
Thailand is extending a lifeline to millions of debtors, expanding the eligibility for the popular “You Fight, We Help” debt relief initiative. The crucial change will allow debtors with arrears ranging from just one day to those overdue by more than a year to access vital assistance. To provide broader support, the Cabinet approved a revised framework that now includes…
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Thailand’s 36% US tariff at risk: Will minister secure a deal?
Thailand is on the edge of a crucial trade deadline with the US, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira announced today that he will be heading to the US next week for urgent trade negotiations. With Thailand facing a 36% tariff on its exports unless a deal is struck, time is running out for the kingdom to…
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Chiang Mai aims to be entertainment hub with major film deal
Chiang Mai is set to become Asia’s next big entertainment hotspot, thanks to a groundbreaking new collaboration. Hylife Group, the city’s leading real estate, asset management, and manufacturing giant, has just signed a major Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) and key industry partners to transform the northern Thai city into a regional film and…
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