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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Sponsored Digital nomading in Chiang Mai? What US$1,000 a month really gets you
Chiang Mai has become a popular destination for digital nomads due to its low living costs, rich culture, and active remote work community. The city offers affordable housing, tasty food, reliable internet, and many co-working spaces, making it a great...
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Thai Restaurant Association rolls dice with dream casino complex
An integrated entertainment complex, housing a casino, hotel, shopping mall, amusement park, and a variety of restaurants is sought by the Thai Restaurant Association. The association urged the Government of Thailand to consider constructing this innovative hub in a second-tier area, with the idea of promoting and selling local cuisine within the complex. Thai Restaurant Association President Thaniwan Kulmongkol stated…
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Dip in Pattaya hotel occupancy despite Songkran festivities
Pattaya’s hotels and those in neighbouring provinces have seen a dip in occupancy rates during the Wan Lai Songkran festival. This downturn has prompted hoteliers to critique the promotional strategy for the extended 21-day Songkran celebration. Morrakot Kuldilok, head of the eastern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), projected that the occupancy rate in Pattaya would touch 70% over…
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Asian shares plunge over 2% amid rising Middle East tensions
Asian shares experienced a significant plunge of over 2% as tensions rose in the Middle East, according to MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares. This was in response to reported Israeli missile attacks on Iranian sites, which also caused US stock futures to drop by 1.3%. The escalation in hostilities has driven the bond yields to tumble, with US long-term…
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Food for thought: Thai restaurant operators adopt new strategies
The increasingly competitive nature of Thailand’s food industry has spurred restaurant operators to adopt inventive strategies. They are now focusing on adapting to shifts in consumer preferences and lifestyle changes, ensuring their businesses remain competitive and continue to grow, as noted by the leader of a prominent conglomerate. Nath Vongphanich, who heads Central Restaurants Group, estimated the restaurant market in…
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Major creditors to rescue distressed Italian-Thai Development
Italian-Thai Development (ITD) Plc, currently facing financial distress, is set to receive an infusion of funds from its major creditors. The provision of fresh capital is aimed at bolstering the company’s operations without necessitating any rehabilitation plan. Bangkok Bank (BBL) President Chartsiri Sophonpanich, who is also a key ITD creditor, underlined the strong long-term business prospects of ITD, despite the…
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Thailand advances its bid for OECD membership to boost economy
Thailand is forging ahead with its application to become a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a move that is anticipated to significantly enhance the country’s economic growth. The Thai Foreign Affairs Minister, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, took a proactive step on Tuesday, April 16, by submitting an official letter of intent to Mathias Cormann, the secretary-general of…
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Thailand Post considers becoming virtual banking agent
Thailand Post, the government-owned logistics firm, is examining the possibility of becoming a neutral virtual banking agent to supplement the functions of emerging virtual banks, according to Chief Executive Dhanant Subhadrabandhu. The national organisation plans to use its extensive network of 1,600 branches and a delivery workforce of 25,000 to support this initiative. Serving as a neutral virtual bank agent…
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Hyundai’s electrifying dismay: Thailand EV sales spark low
Hyundai Mobility Thailand, the Korean automaker’s subsidiary, warns that this year’s electric vehicle (EV) sales in Thailand may fall short of the predicted 130,000 units. The company cites an ongoing price war amongst Chinese EV manufacturers as the primary obstacle, leading to unstable car prices and discouraging potential buyers. The managing director of Hyundai Mobility Thailand, Wallop Chalermvongsavej, noted the…
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Thailand’s PTT Plc sees future in hydrogen fuel for vehicles
PTT Plc, Thailand’s national oil and gas conglomerate, is forecasting a future where hydrogen could potentially replace oil-powered vehicles, contributing to the reduction of air pollutants. This year, the company’s subsidiary Arun Plus, in collaboration with Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., is planning to domestically produce electric vehicles (EVs). Additionally, PTT is partnering with various companies to advance the…
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Revving up: Rever Leasing to drive BYD EV financing in Thailand
Rever Leasing, a vehicle finance subsidiary of Rever Automotive Co, the exclusive distributor for BYD electric vehicles (EVs) in Thailand, is set to launch operations next month. The firm has set a high target to become the top electric vehicle loan provider in Thailand within the next few years. Isara Wongrung, the CEO of Rever Leasing, expressed confidence in the…
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Thai IT service demand surges due to digital transformation and AI
Global managed service provider Kyndryl believes the demand for information technology (IT) services in Thailand is being driven by factors such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), smart cloud, and the modernisation of IT infrastructure. Kyndryl was born out of the spin-off of IBM’s infrastructure service business in 2021. Kittipong Asawapichayon, the managing director of Kyndryl Thailand and Vietnam spoke…
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Thai trial shows railway’s agricultural haul potential
A recent trial by Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) has demonstrated the vast potential of railway logistics for long-distance transportation of agricultural products. The experiment resulted in a 13-fold reduction of carbon emissions compared to air freight, as well as significant cost savings. Running the trial with high-efficiency mobile refrigerated container trains, TSRI transported the Royal Project’s fresh produce…
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Bangchak expands petroleum business in Norway
Bangchak Corporation, a prominent energy conglomerate listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), is advancing its petroleum business in Norway. The corporation, via its subsidiary Okea ASA, is set to develop an additional production facility at the offshore Brasse petroleum field in the North Sea. This move aligns with Bangchak’s 2022 announcement to bolster its investments in oil and…
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Thailand likely to house major EV battery factory within two years
The Board of Investment (BoI) anticipates the establishment of a substantial facility for the manufacturing of battery cells for electric vehicles (EVs) in Thailand within a two-year timeframe. This projection follows a promotional roadshow conducted by the BoI in China just last week. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, the BoI Secretary-General, explained that this roadshow emphasised the benefits and incentives being offered to…
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Global oil prices dip over China’s economic slowdown
With the ongoing economic slowdown in China and diminishing hopes for imminent US interest rate reductions, global oil prices saw a decline in the early trade today. These concerns outweighed supply apprehensions triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East. Trading at US$89.16 a barrel, Brent futures for June delivery experienced a minor decrease of 7 cents or 0.1%. Similarly,…
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Thai banks set for expansion amid ASEAN economies’ growth
A surge in regional business expansion is forecasted for major local banks in Thailand due to the growth potential of ASEAN economies. This outlook has been provided by Fitch Ratings Thailand, indicating promising revenue prospects for these banks through increased regional operations. In 2023, a noticeable upturn in the regional business of large local banks was observed, primarily due to…
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Chinese firms eye EV supply chain in Thailand’s Smart Park
Chinese companies have shown keen interest in the EV supply chain and energy sectors of the Smart Park Industrial Estate, situated in Rayong, Thailand. This industrial estate is due to open by the end of the current year, according to the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT). The companies aim to establish factories manufacturing EV components to cater to the…
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Thai govt plan for energy cost surge amid Israel-Iran conflict
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce issued directives to state bodies to devise strategies to mitigate potential surges in energy costs in the event of an escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict. The directive follows Iran’s missile and drone assault on Israel, a retaliatory move against Israel’s alleged attack on Iran’s consulate in Damascus earlier this month. This marked the first direct attack…
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Southeast Asia lags in green investments
Southeast Asia is significantly lagging in green investments aimed at reducing emissions, according to a report by Bain & Company, a global consultancy. The region’s energy consumption is projected to increase by 40% within this decade, leading to a continued rise in carbon dioxide emissions due to its heavy reliance on fossil fuels. The report, produced in collaboration with green…
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Thai government profits from increasing Philippine rice imports
As the Philippines’ demand for rice imports swells, the Thai government is capitalising on this increasing requirement. The Southeast Asian country is set to import more rice this year than previously estimated, providing a lucrative opportunity for Thailand’s rice export market. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has thus instructed the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) and the commercial attaché in the…
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Durian exports to undergo regulatory revamp in Thailand
Thailand’s durian exports are set for a regulatory overhaul to ensure quality and competitiveness on the global stage, according to government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke. As the leading global durian exporter, Thailand’s move towards stricter quality control aims to bolster its market position. The export of durians has become a significant revenue source for the country, with earnings reaching 120 billion…
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Thailand aims to transform local festivals into renowned attractions
The National Soft Power Strategy Committee of Thailand is setting its sights on transforming traditional events into world-renowned festivals throughout the country’s 77 provinces. This objective will be achieved through comprehensive research and festival organisation training. The committee’s vice president, Dr Surapong Suebwonglee, highlighted the need to better manage the country’s numerous attractions. He opined that the country’s festivals, if…
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April alcohol sales set to double, spiking road accidents feared
The CEO of Carabao Group, Sathien Sathientham, predicts that April’s alcohol sales are set to double, except for December. This increase is anticipated due to the prolonged Songkran festival and the extension of bar and pub opening hours in several areas, including Bangkok and Phuket. Nuttapong Boontob, a board member and assistant secretary of the ThaiRoads Foundation, expressed concerns about…
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Songkran expected to boost Thailand’s economy with billions
The Songkran festival in Thailand this year is anticipated to bring between 140 and 200 billion baht into the country’s economy. The festival, which has been recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage event by Unesco, is predicted to attract 10 million international visitors who will contribute 11.8 billion baht to the total spending. In light of the festival’s recognition, the…
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Crypto crackdown: Regulatory bodies unite to reel in P2P fraud
Regulatory bodies are rallying together to develop stringent rules to monitor the buying and selling of cryptocurrencies via peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions. These authorities have observed that fraudsters, seeking to cover their tracks after illicit activities, tend to use cryptocurrencies purchased P2P. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is being urged to revise or create regulations related to digital assets, to…
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Thailand’s cybercrime problem persists despite efforts
Thailand’s digital economy and society (DES) minister, Prasert Jantararuangthong, revealed that despite efforts to curb cybercrime, the problem remains rampant with damages averaging 100 million baht daily. The Anti-Online Scam Operation Centre (AOC), set up to address this issue, is yet to see a decline in the number of cases. The ongoing scams are attributed to the scammers’ increasingly sophisticated…
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Thai industries fear trade slump due to Myanmar conflict
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) voiced concerns over the escalating armed conflict in Myanmar, predicting a further slump in border trade and a surge in illegal workers from Myanmar into Thailand. The Thailand-Myanmar border trade, valued annually at 100 billion baht (US$2.7 billion), tends to suffer whenever conflict escalates, according to Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the FTI. “There are…
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BoT holds policy rate, predicts consistent economic growth
The Bank of Thailand has kept the policy rate steady at 2.5% during its latest meeting, rejecting governmental calls for a decrease. The decision, marking the third consecutive meeting with no change, is based on the Thai economy’s consistent growth, which has already exceeded 2023 levels. Piti Disyatat, the secretary of the Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), stated…
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Thai construction firm ITD seeks additional financial backing
Financially beleaguered construction company Italian-Thai Development (ITD) hopes to receive more financial backing from lenders to complete over 100 ongoing construction tasks while also vying for additional projects from the now active 2024 fiscal budget. ITD, listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), has plans in the pipeline to offload its non-performing assets, including Asia-Pacific Potash Corp. Meanwhile, a…
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Thai govt plans huge digital wallet handout to boost economy
The Pheu Thai Party government, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, is set to roll out a massive digital wallet handout scheme worth 500 billion baht (US$13.75 billion) in the fourth quarter of this year. The scheme, which is designed to stimulate economic activity, involves transferring a sum of 10,000 baht (US$275) to 50 million Thai citizens, intended to be…
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