Business News

Thailand business news, market trends, foreign investment, and economic updates—stay informed on stock market movements, entrepreneurship, and key developments shaping the economy. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for business news in Thailand.

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    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...

  • Somkid blames sluggish formation of Thai government for GDP downgrading

    Somkid blames sluggish formation of Thai government for GDP downgrading

    Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak is saying the delay in forming Thailand’s next government caused the downgrading of the country’s GDP projections from 3.8% to 3.3%. The Bank of Thailand downgraded their forecasts at a meeting this morning. But Somkid noted that he was confident that Thailand’s GDP growth will pick up again once the new cabinet had been announced and…

  • Trying to find a pulse in Thailand’s economic health

    Trying to find a pulse in Thailand’s economic health

    Thailand’s economy is south-east Asia’s wounded soldier as the newly elected Thai government tries to boost confidence and stimulate the economy after five years of military rule. Certainly the past 12 months have been the most challenging. GDP growth hit a four-year low of 2.8% for Q1 2019 and exports remain weak. Despite having unlimited power for half a decade,…

  • Thai car manufacturers upbeat about sales

    Thai car manufacturers upbeat about sales

    PHOTO: Chevrolet’s proposed SUV ‘Blazer’ to replace the Captiva Car sales for the first five months of this year stood at 437,722 equating to a year-on-year rise of just over 9%. Sales for May alone were 88,097 units, up 3.7%. But May’s growth slowed from the double-digit rise that the sector experienced between January and April, 2019. • By brand sales…

  • Thailand Post’s no-go list

    Thailand Post’s no-go list

    Twenty years ago postal services were thought to he going out of fashion as email and social media began to replace people sending letters in the post. But that’s all changed now as online retail services are making the world’s postal services busier than ever. Including Thailand Post. If you’re wishing to avoid problems with Thailand Post and would like…

  • Thailand’s exports plunge 5.8% in May

    Thailand’s exports plunge 5.8% in May

    Thai exports have declined 5.8% for the month of May 2019. The value of May’s exports is 648 billion baht. The Commerce Ministry says in their report today that the contraction is mostly influenced by global factors including ongoing trade tensions between US and China and tighter global financial conditions, and specific factors of each country and region, political uncertainty…

  • Private hospitals briefed on new drug prices and medical fee notifications

    Private hospitals briefed on new drug prices and medical fee notifications

    Internal Trade department officials have briefed representatives of 353 private hospitals around Thailand about the public notification of prices of drugs, medical supplies and medical services to patients are treated at their hospitals. Internal Trade Department Director General Wichai Phochanakit explained that the private hospitals need to notify the public of the prices of drugs separately, not including the hospital…

  • Thai Baht hits six year high – 31.05 to the US dollar

    Thai Baht hits six year high – 31.05 to the US dollar

    The Thai baht has hit a six-year high, reaching 31.05 to the US dollar yesterday after the US Federal Reserve signalled possible interest rates cuts. The US Fed says their monetary easing would be in response to increased economic uncertainty and a drop in inflation expectations. The Thai currency is forecast to keep trading in a range of 31.15 to 31.25…

  • Where to post all of your job positions: Completely free!

    Where to post all of your job positions: Completely free!

    Recruitment can cost you more than you realize. You do not want to sacrifice candidate quality, but you don’t wish to spend too much time and money to find them. All types of employers are searching online for platforms they can use to post their job positions for free. From social networking websites to job boards, there are many ways…

  • Chinese move their purchase power away from Bangkok condo market

    Chinese move their purchase power away from Bangkok condo market

    Chinese condo buyers are veering their purchase power away from the Bangkok property market citing the strong Thai currency, overpricing and a supply glut. 2015 – 5.8 Yuan to the Thai Baht 2019 – 4.4 Yuan to the Thai Baht The rise of the baht and the weakening of the Chinese Yuan over the past four years, have culminated in…

  • Bangkok to Hua Hin van operators blame Prayut but passengers say the service was “terrible”

    Bangkok to Hua Hin van operators blame Prayut but passengers say the service was “terrible”

    PHOTO: NewsBeezer A minivan service from Bangkok to Hua Hin has been forced to conclude services by the end of June. “June and James Transport” are blaming the military government and NCPO leader Prayut Chan-o-cha. But Manager Online says reviews from customers shed a different light on the story saying the service was “terrible”. Customers say the vehicles were terrible…

  • True Digital Park opens in Sukhumvit 101 Road, Bangkok

    True Digital Park opens in Sukhumvit 101 Road, Bangkok

    Under the concept of ‘One Roof, All Possibilities’, the new True Digital Park is now ready to support the country in driving the digital economy. The “Work Space” is a workplace and digital innovation development space. The True Digital Park says they will collaborate with government agencies, enterprises and global tech giants including The National Innovation Agency, Digital Economy Promotion Agency,…

  • Administrative Court rejects private hospitals’ plea to remove caps on pricing

    Administrative Court rejects private hospitals’ plea to remove caps on pricing

    Thailand’s private hospital sector has failed to win respite from an order controlling their medical prices, after the Supreme Administrative Court turned down their request. The court made the decision saying that the order will not cause irreversible damages to the hospitals even though an injunction has not been issued yet. The Private Hospital Association, together with 42 private hospitals,…

  • Fishermen say they will protest fishing bans off Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

    Fishermen say they will protest fishing bans off Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

    Fishermen in Nakhon Si Thammarat are warning of mass protests against the provincial governor if he doesn’t act and allow them to fish legally in the seas off the provincial coast. The south Thailand fishermen say they’re being harassed by fishery officials. 500 local fishermen gathered yesterday to air their grievances to the newly elected Palang Pracharat MP for the…

  • Private sector waits for new economic ministers to raise investor confidence

    Private sector waits for new economic ministers to raise investor confidence

    The private sector says they’re waiting to see the new ministers emerge from the current negotiations that will be in charge of economic portfolios, who may raise the confidence of investors. Meanwhile, the Consumer Confidence Index was at 77.7 in for the month of May, the lowest in 19 months. Thanawat Pholvichai, director of University of the Thai Chamber of…

  • Facing headwinds in 2019, Thai economy looks better for 2020

    Facing headwinds in 2019, Thai economy looks better for 2020

    The Thai economy is projected to grow 3.8% in 2019, slightly below last year’s 4.2%. The main reason is slower growth in the global economy. thailand-business-news.com reports that this is likely to lead to a deceleration in Thai exports and tourism, which will impact domestic consumption. But the report says that foreign direct investment and government stimulus measures could prop up…

  • Final design for Phuket Light Rail wrapped up next week

    Final design for Phuket Light Rail wrapped up next week

    A final design of light rail (tram) project in Phuket should be concluded by next week as a dispute over how the rail structure will be laid is close to being settled. Deputy Transport Minister Pailin Chuchottaworn says recent talks have been focussing on the design of tram track construction along some of the densely populated areas from the airport…

  • MRT extension from Hua Lamphong to Tha Phra opens Mother’s Day in Thailand

    MRT extension from Hua Lamphong to Tha Phra opens Mother’s Day in Thailand

    PHOTO: The Nation A free trial service of the MRT Blue Line extension from Bang Sue to Tha Phra in Bangkok will be launched at the beginning of next year, and commercial services will begin in March. Mother’s Day on August 12 this year has been picked for the official launch of the MRT extension service from Hua Lamphong to…

  • Nation Multimedia Group takes legal action over alleged copyright violation

    Nation Multimedia Group takes legal action over alleged copyright violation

    The Nation Multimedia Group is filing criminal cases against two media monitoring service companies for violation of its copyright. NMG’s subsidiaries Krungthep Turakij Media, Nation News Network and Kom Chad Luek Media, as plaintiffs, filed criminal cases with the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court on April 9 against iSentia Bangkok and iSentia Monitoring Services (Thailand). The two companies…

  • Where are Thai’s heading for this summer holidays?

    Where are Thai’s heading for this summer holidays?

    Thai travellers who are booking through Airbnb are discovering new ‘off the beaten track’ destinations. Globally, Airbnb identifies some of the top trending destinations based on percentage growth in bookings during the same time last year *. And when we say growth, we mean mega growth! The top choices are: • Valenciennes, France (704%) • Changsha, China (695%) • Matsudo, Japan…

  • And then there were three. Bidding for Airport duty free concession.

    And then there were three. Bidding for Airport duty free concession.

    Only three Thai bidders – King Power Duty Free, a consortium led by Bangkok Airways, and a bid by Royal Orchid Hotel – remain in play as the companies attempt to win the licence to run duty-free shops at the Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai international airports. The Central Department Store bid has formerly dropped out of the bidding…

  • Airports of Thailand open bidding for new duty free contracts at three airports

    Airports of Thailand open bidding for new duty free contracts at three airports

    Airports of Thailand (AoT) says they will finalise the bidding process to announce who will manage the commercial areas at three provincial airports – Phuket, Had Yai and Chiang Mai – on June 10. King Power Duty Free has had a stranglehold on the duty free concession areas of the country’s four main airports but are having to bid for…

  • Thai Smile joins Star Alliance as ‘connecting partner’

    Thai Smile joins Star Alliance as ‘connecting partner’

    Thai Smile Airways, the budget offshoot of Thai Airways, will become the “Connecting Partner” in the Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline network. Customers travelling on an itinerary which includes a transfer between a Star Alliance member airline and a Connecting Partner will be offered standard alliance benefits, such as the issue of a boarding passes for connecting flights at…

  • Thailand’s export growth expectations revised down to just 3% in 2019

    Thailand’s export growth expectations revised down to just 3% in 2019

    “Export trends are aligned with global sentiment and the outlook for other Asian countries, making export prospects murky because of the escalating trade war.” The government is massively revising down their export growth targets to just 3% this year from an earlier 8% growth estimate. Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak is blaming the global economic slowdown, the ongoing trade spat between the…

  • Officials demolish 38 year old Kieat Tong Chai market in Bangkok

    Officials demolish 38 year old Kieat Tong Chai market in Bangkok

    PHOTOS: Daily News Bangkok officials (BMA) have demolished a market built to occupy the middle of a road in Din Daeng district following 38 years of disputes. The Nation reports that Din Daeng district office director Panchapat Lakdee says they’ve demolished the Kieat Tong Chai market to make more space for motorists in the middle of Soi Pracha Songkroah 38…

  • Thailand’s aviation industry passes international inspections

    Thailand’s aviation industry passes international inspections

    A pass mark, maybe a C+. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) told Thai aviation officials have scored 65.07%, exceeding the minimum pass mark of 60%. Thailand only scored 34.2% when it received a ‘red flag’ four years ago. The score has been awarded after ICAO officials carried out a full inspection of Thailand’s civil aviation standards The inspections were…

  • Beam me up Phuket – new space theme hotel for the island

    Beam me up Phuket – new space theme hotel for the island

    A 150 key space themed hotel is under development in Kathu, Phuket, by a Singaporean group . Located close to the Central Festival and Makro complexes, the project is expected to open next year according to a report in TTG Asia. The One Pioneer – Beyond Space Travel hotel say it’s “highly focused on an outer space storyline and will have…

  • 25 workers injured after container explosion at Laem Chabang Port

    25 workers injured after container explosion at Laem Chabang Port

    At least 25 port workers have been injured and locals evacuated after an explosion in a container on a ship at dock at the Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri, east of Bangkok, this morning. Laem Chabang’s port director Vice Admiral Yutthana Mokkhao says an urgent investigation is being undertaken to determine the contents of the container. The Hong Kong ship…

  • IKEA Thailand launches full online store

    IKEA Thailand launches full online store

    “…it took IKEA about two years to study the market demand, develop the infrastructure, and prepare everything before launching their e-commerce service in Southeast Asia.” by Kwanchai Rungfapairsarn IKEA Thailand has announced the official launch of its IKEA Online Store as it gets set to better provide for individual customers across the Kingdom. IKEA Thailand say the seamless online shopping…

  • April’s exports fall to the lowest level in 24 months

    April’s exports fall to the lowest level in 24 months

    “Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak has scheduled a meeting on May 31 with Thailand’s commercial attachés from across the world in a bid to boost exports.” Thailand’s exports fell 2.6% last month (April) to US$18.5 billion, the lowest level since May 2017. Thai PBS reports that imports in April also dropped by 0.72% to about US$20 billion, resulting in a trade…

  • WeWork opens up in Bangkok. What is WeWork?

    WeWork opens up in Bangkok. What is WeWork?

    “This will pave the way for WeWork’s unique proposition to connect two major groups within the WeWork community: corporations looking to innovate, and start-ups looking to grow and better establish their business.” WeWork has started operations in Thailand. So what is WeWork? WeWork – a platform for creators that provides space, community and services to help people build a life,…