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 Is private health insurance in Thailand worth it? Real costs vs risks explained
Thailand has a strong healthcare system with both public and private options. Public hospitals offer affordable care, but many people, including expats, choose private health insurance for faster service, modern facilities, and more treatment choices. To decide if private health...
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Thai seafood exports to US unaffected by fishing gear concerns
The Department of Fisheries aims to reassure the public that recent changes to Section 66 of a Fisheries Executive Decree will not impact seafood exports to the United States. There are concerns that the US might ban Thai seafood caught using fishing gear harmful to certain marine mammals. Bancha Sookkaew, Director General of the Department of Fisheries, responded to a…
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Chinese New Year spending in Thailand hits 51 billion baht
Public expenditure during the Chinese New Year is projected to reach 51.78 billion baht, marking the highest level in five years, according to recent government estimates. Sasikan Wattanachan, deputy government spokesperson, noted that this figure signifies a 4.5% rise compared to the previous year. It is also the first occasion since the Covid-19 pandemic that spending for Chinese New Year…
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No promises on 400 baht minumum wage: Labour chief
The long-awaited nationwide implementation of the 400-baht daily minimum wage remains uncertain, according to Labour Permanent Secretary Boonsong Thapchaiyuth. While some major tourism provinces like Phuket and Chon Buri began offering the increased rate from January 1, Boonsong admitted there is no guarantee the wage hike will extend to all provinces anytime soon. Speaking during the first meeting of the…
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Singapore and Thailand mark 60 years of diplomatic ties
Singapore and Thailand celebrate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year. To honour this milestone, the Singaporean Embassy has unveiled a logo, which emerged as the winner of a competition held last year in collaboration with the foreign ministries of both nations and the Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore. During the logo launch event at Siam Paragon, Catherine…
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Thai durians cleared for export to China after contamination checks
Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Itthi Sirilattayakorn recently inspected the export of durians free from Basic Yellow 2 and cadmium contamination at the Nakhon Phanom border checkpoint. Itthi discussed export strategies to China with the Department of Agriculture and relevant agencies. Following Agriculture Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat’s urgent policy on safe, high-quality fruit for domestic consumption and export, efforts to address…
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Thailand bets big on casino boom under entertainment banner
In a daring move set to shake up the Land of Smiles, the Government of Thailand is pushing forward with a controversial plan to legalise casinos, sneakily packaged as entertainment complexes. This bold move comes hot on the heels of outspoken former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s call to legalise online gambling, promising a windfall of tax revenue. Now, the Digital Economy…
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PTT Plc shifts gears: Oil giant explores new horizons
PTT Plc, Thailand’s oil and gas giant, is re-evaluating its tactics in the logistics sector, contemplating a shift away from its traditional petroleum roots. The national conglomerate is investigating fresh investment avenues in non-oil sectors, aiming to revamp its business footprint in the rapidly advancing world of logistics. Leading the charge is Chaya Chandavasu, PTT Senior Executive Vice-President for Corporate…
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Thailand banks on foreign investment to power economic surge
Bangkok Bank remains bullish on a surge in foreign direct investment (FDI) into Thailand, anticipating it will turbocharge the nation’s economy in the coming years despite global uncertainties. At the 2025 ASEAN Business Forum helmed by the bank last Thursday, Bangkok Bank President Chartsiri Sophonpanich unveiled striking figures: Thailand’s investment applications soared by 35% in 2024, hitting a decade peak…
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Power play: Thailand set to slash electricity bills with tariff tweak
In a shock move that could see electricity bills slashed, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is eyeing a reduction in the power tariff by 0.17 baht per kilowatt-hour. This welcome change hinges on the government trimming its budget for renewable energy promotion. At present, the power tariff stands at 4.15 baht per unit, with a chunk earmarked for renewable energy…
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Israel to open 13,000 agriculture jobs for Thai workers
Some 13,000 jobs in the agriculture sector are set to be made available for Thai workers, as announced by Israeli Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Avi Dichter. In recent discussions held in Jerusalem, senior Thai officials, including Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn and Department of Employment Director General Somchai Morakotsriwan, met with Dichter. The Thai delegation visited Beit Hilkia Moshav on…
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Thai cinema reels in the big bucks, outshining Hollywood
Eight Thai films surpassed 100 million baht in revenue in 2024, capturing a 54% share of the domestic market, surpassing Hollywood films. Surachet Asavarueng-Anan, Chief Executive Officer of M STUDIO, a film production and distribution company in Thailand and abroad, announced yesterday, January 15, that the Thai film industry achieved significant success last year. The industry’s market share exceeded that…
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Thai tax tangle: Expats warned of new rules on overseas income
A packed meeting of the Pattaya City Expat Club turned into a lively debate as members received crucial updates on Thailand’s controversial new tax policy regarding overseas income transfers. Hosted by Thomas Carden, director of American International Tax Advisers, and tax attorney Patcha Inkudanonda, the session offered clarity, and raised fresh concerns, about the Thai Revenue Department’s evolving guidelines. Patcha…
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Thailand boosts durian export checks after China ban
Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is set to enhance its contamination screening processes for durians before export to China, following a temporary ban imposed by the country. Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat announced yesterday, January 14, that each durian shipment will undergo testing for Basic Yellow 2, a cancer-causing dye, along with cadmium and durian borers, prior to…
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Chulalongkorn University announces the ‘Future of Jobs 2025’
Chulalongkorn University President, Professor Doctor Wilert Puriwat, announced the findings from the Future of Jobs 2025 report. Chulalongkorn University is the only partner institution in Thailand to collaborate with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to propose a roadmap for coping with changes in the labour market over the 2025 to 2030 period. The report is based on a survey of…
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Thailand bets on man-made marvels for tourism cash boost
According to insiders at Krungthai Compass, man-made hotspots, from sports hubs to spectacular events, are set to propel Thailand to the brink of a tourism revolution thanks to a bold new strategy. Thailand is banking on an artificial allure to supercharge its tourism engine, with Krungthai Compass, a top research centre under Krungthai Bank, revealing that new, man-made tourist attractions…
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Thailand greenlights legal casinos to boost tourism and economy
In a game-changing move, the Thai Cabinet has given the nod to a draft bill that would legalise gambling and casinos, aiming to turbocharge tourism, job creation, and investment. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced the bold move today, January 13, heralding a new era for the country’s economy. Under the government’s ambitious plan, the legislation, soon to be debated in…
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Thailand’s new housing project targets lower income families
Lower-income Thai citizens will soon have access to an affordable housing project through the Homes for Thais initiative, which offers accommodation on state-owned land without requiring down payments. The programme instead implements a monthly rental system. The Transport Ministry will present the project details to Cabinet today, January 13. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will launch the initiative on Friday, January…
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Rice to the occasion: Commerce Ministry fast-tracks SME trade talks
The Commerce Ministry is moving to accelerate the liberalisation of rice trade, with a meeting planned for January 17. This session aims to finalise strategies to assist small enterprises in becoming rice exporters, targeting concrete outcomes in the first quarter of the year. During a meeting on January 10 to discuss pressing policies, Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan instructed all departments…
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Petrol prices cut in Thailand for Children’s Day celebrations
PTT Station has announced a reduction in retail prices for various types of petrol and gasohol, coinciding with Children’s Day celebrations. Starting today, January 11, prices will decrease by 0.30 baht per litre for petrol and all types of gasohol, while E20 will see a 0.40 baht reduction, and E85 will drop by 0.50 baht per litre. Following the adjustments,…
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Tourism stocks tumble amid Chinese tourist fears
Thai tourism stocks took a hit this morning as concerns mounted over a potential decline in Chinese tourist arrivals during the Chinese New Year. The drop follows revelations about a Chinese actor, Wang Xing, who was found in Myanmar and is suspected to have been a victim of human trafficking. This incident has cast a shadow over Thailand’s safety reputation.…
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From heiress to hero: Thai FA Madam Pang’s journey
Madam Pang, a fifth-generation heiress from Thailand’s billionaire Lamsam family, has transformed Thai football with her passion, leadership, and jaw-dropping generosity. Born Nualphan Lamsam, the 58 year old business mogul comes from one of Thailand’s wealthiest families, with an estimated net worth of US$890 million (approximately 30.82 billion baht). As CEO of Mueang Thai Insurance and a pioneer in introducing…
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Dream homes for less: Thai govt rolls out affordable housing project
Thais earning under 50,000 baht per month are being offered a golden opportunity to own a home in the city through the government’s “Baan Pheu Khon Thai” (Homes for Thais) initiative, with registration set to open on January 20. The project, announced by Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, aims to provide affordable, fully furnished housing near urban centres, leveraging land owned…
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Thailand’s household debt reaches 104% of GDP, raising economic concerns
Thailand’s household debt, encompassing informal loans, has risen to 104% of GDP, potentially impacting future economic growth, as revealed by a private sector panel report. Research conducted by Chulalongkorn University for the Joint Standing Committee for Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) shows the country’s household debt-to-GDP ratio reached 104% in the fourth quarter of 2024, with informal loans included in…
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Power play: Thailand plugs into cutting electricity costs
The Government of Thailand is actively exploring methods to reduce electricity costs, as suggested by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, according to Deputy Prime Minister Pichai Chunhavajira. Responding to Thaksin’s remarks, the de facto leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, Pichai noted that Thaksin had assured voters in Chiang Rai of the government’s intention to decrease energy prices to…
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Thailand’s N3 lottery might be scrapped due to poor sales
The Finance Ministry is evaluating the future of the N3 lottery due to its lacklustre public response since its introduction last November. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat announced yesterday, January 7, that the three-digit lottery (N3), designed to rival illegal lotteries and expensive six-digit tickets (L6), has not met expectations during its trial phase. Introduced on November 1 as part…
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Elderly cash windfall: Thai govt handouts confirmed by January 29
The Thai government has officially confirmed that elderly citizens will receive their long-awaited 10,000 baht stimulus payments before January 29. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, spilled the beans during a press conference at the Ministry of Finance today, January 7. “We assure you, the 10,000-baht payments will hit accounts before the deadline. The exact transfer date hinges on a final…
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CNY spending boom: Thailand poised for festive cash splash
Thailand’s economy is set to light up like a firecracker this Chinese New Year, with spending forecast to rise by over 3%, according to the Economic and Business Forecasting Centre at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce. Buoyed by a recovering economy, government cash injections, and a surge of Chinese tourists, the festival promises to spark a celebratory…
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Scrubs to feathers: Retired nurse rakes in a nest egg with ostriches
A retired nurse from Trang’s Mueang district has traded scrubs for feathers, earning a tidy nest egg by raising ostriches and selling their eggs and chicks. Prachuap Singkerk has transformed a two-rai plot of land next to her home into an ostrich haven, where she cares for nine of the towering birds: four males and five females. These industrious ostriches…
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Sweet profit: Lopburi melon farm thrives with high demand
The Orapan Melon Farm in Lopburi province has become a beacon of agricultural success, with its melons in high demand and orders booked well into the next year. Located in the Suratikarn Organic Farmers Group area, the farm cultivates two melon varieties: the Sanwan melon, a Japanese-style fruit with green netted skin and sweet, fragrant flesh, and the Thaihao melon…
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Thailand to revise minimum wage across provinces from January
Thailand is set to implement a new minimum wage structure across its 77 provinces from January 1, 2025. The decision was made following an extensive meeting led by Boonsong Thapchaiyuth, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour. The meeting, which took place yesterday, December 23 and lasted over five hours, resulted in a unanimous agreement on the new wage rates,…
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