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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Sponsored Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Thai MPs accuse government of trading national security for tariff cuts
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) MPs accused the government of concealing a significant deal with the United States from the public, claiming officials plan to allow the US to use a naval base in southern Thailand in exchange for a tariff reduction. A group of MPs from the Palang Pracharath Party, led by Phang Nga MP Chakaj Phatthanakitwibun, held a press…
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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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Thailand plots digital baht revolution to lure big-spending tourists
Thailand is taking a bold leap to cash in on the crypto craze, with regulators unveiling plans to let foreign tourists spend their digital coins directly on everything from street food to luxury hotels. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in partnership with the Bank of Thailand (BoT), announced a groundbreaking crypto sandbox programme designed to boost tourism and inject…
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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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US deadline looms: Thailand races to avert tariff pain
Thailand is racing against the clock to defuse a trade crisis after Washington dropped a bombshell 36% tariff on Thai exports, forcing Bangkok to scramble for last-minute concessions and emergency bailouts before the deadline hits. The United States has given Thailand until August 1 to finalise trade proposals under its tough new Reciprocal Tariff policy. The Thai government confirmed it…
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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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Deal or no deal? Thailand rocked by Trump’s 36% tariffs bomb
Donald Trump has lobbed another economic grenade into global markets, slapping punishing new tariffs on key US trading partners, including Thailand, in a fresh trade tirade that’s left allies fuming and markets tumbling. The US president kicked off his latest trade war salvo by revealing a raft of “reciprocal” tariff letters, and warned this was only the beginning. Starting August…
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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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Jobless win big as Thailand ups unemployment payouts
Thailand’s workers are set to get a bigger lifeline as the Labour Ministry rolls out more generous unemployment benefits. The Labour Ministry officially approved higher unemployment compensation rates, offering fresh relief to insured employees under Thailand’s social security system. Marasri Jairangsi, Secretary General of the Social Security Office (SSO), confirmed that a new ministerial regulation took effect on Saturday, June…
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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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Army and prisoners tackle Thailand’s fruit labour crisis
To tackle the ongoing labour shortage and ensure a smooth harvest, the Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has launched an ambitious plan to handle the incoming fruit harvests from both the north and south of Thailand. The initiative, which has already gained support from military personnel and good prisoners, aims to streamline fruit distribution and provide much-needed assistance to farmers.…
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Thai exports at risk as Strait of Hormuz closes
Thai National Shippers’ Council chairperson Tanakorn Kasetsuwan yesterday discussed potential impacts following Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz due to Middle Eastern tensions. Tanakorn yesterday, June 23, outlined six strategies to mitigate the effects on the oil, fertiliser, and agriculture sectors, urging the Thai government to ensure energy security and minimise long-term risks. The closure of the Strait…
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Bangkok’s Green Line future in doubt: Will 20-baht fare survive?
As the Green Line’s concession approaches its expiration in 2029, the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) is preparing to release a groundbreaking study to explore four potential operational models that could keep the popular 20-baht flat fare policy alive. This move comes after Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt proposed a transfer of the Green Line project to the Ministry of Transport, believing…
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Thailand’s double-track railway project to revolutionise transport
The Ministry of Transport is pushing full steam ahead with the second phase of its ambitious double-track railway development project, which will span a massive 1,249 kilometres and cost an eye-watering 297.9 billion baht. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who is overseeing the project, has promised significant benefits for the country’s transport system. According to Suriya, the…
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Thai hotels warn of layoffs amid 400 baht wage hike proposal
The Thai Hotels Association (THA) has raised concerns about potential large-scale layoffs in the hotel sector during the low season, should the government proceed with plans to increase the daily minimum wage to 400 baht next week. The THA has submitted a petition to the prime minister, urging the cancellation of this policy. La-iad Bungsrithong, an advisor to the THA…
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Thai restaurants struggle with 400 baht minimum wage hike
The Thai Restaurant Association expressed concern about the impact of the recent decision to raise the daily minimum wage to 400 baht on the already struggling restaurant sector. This adjustment, effective from July 1, will apply to all workers in Bangkok and is extended to employees in most hotels and entertainment venues across the country. Currently, the minimum wage in…
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Thai political instability threatens economy amid US tariff concerns
Political instability between Thailand’s ruling Pheu Thai Party and its coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, is expected to further weaken investor confidence. This comes amid threats of a 36% US tariff on Thai exports. Poonyawat Sreesing, a senior economist at Siam Commercial Bank’s Economic Intelligence Centre (SCB EIC), highlighted that the Thai economy has been enduring political uncertainty for some…
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Phuket’s economy soars, but 600 Cambodian workers left stranded
Phuket’s economy is roaring back to life, with employment soaring by nearly 100% and tourism revenue skyrocketing. But while the island thrives, a pressing issue remains — the 600 Cambodian workers currently stranded without a repatriation plan. Phuket Deputy Governor, Suwit Pansengiam, gave a promising update today, June 18, revealing that tourism in Phuket has grown significantly since last year. With a revenue of 497 billion…
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Bangkok Expo 2032: Student’s bold vision could transform the city
What if Thailand finally hosted a World Expo — and it happened right in the heart of Bangkok? That’s the bold vision behind Bangkok World Expo 2032, the graduation thesis of Thanakrit Kanchanaram, a student from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Architecture. His plan transforms Makkasan Station into a cutting-edge exhibition hub, making Bangkok the epicentre of innovation, culture, and urban revival. “Thailand…
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Thailand SEC cracks down on margin loan misuse
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will initiate a second round of public hearings regarding tighter regulations on margin loans. This comes amid concerns that certain brokerages have allowed margin credit to be utilised for non-investment purposes. Surasak Ritthongpitak, the Assistant Secretary General of the SEC, indicated that forthcoming regulatory amendments will likely prevent securities firms from granting margin loans…
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Thailand’s 157 billion baht stimulus scramble begins
Time is running out for government agencies to grab their slice of a massive 157 billion baht stimulus budget — and if they don’t move fast, the money disappears for good. Today, June 18, Thailand’s Economic Stimulus Committee will review a long list of proposals from ministries scrambling to secure funding before the clock runs out on September 30. If…
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