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 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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China crisis or Golden Week wonder? Tourism hopes take flight in May
In the midst of a 12% year-on-year plunge in Chinese tourist numbers during the first two months of the year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is holding its breath for a revival come May, perfectly timed with China’s Labour Day holiday. TAT Deputy Governor Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, handling international marketing across Asia and the South Pacific, highlighted that safety…
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Digital wallet phase three targets Thais aged 16 to 20
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Pichai Chunhavajira today announced that the third phase of the digital wallet programme will be limited to people aged 16 to 20. Efforts are being made to distribute the funds by the second quarter, with a potential fourth phase under consideration. Today, at 8.50am, March 10, at Government House, Pichai discussed the first…
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Thai farmers urged to go bananas for ripe returns
The Government of Thailand is urging beleaguered Thai farmers to pivot to bananas from rice as a strategy to bolster their earnings amidst plummeting rice prices. Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan dropped the fruity bombshell while addressing People’s Party MP Narongdech Ularnkul’s concerns about rice price stabilisation. “A rice oversupply is crushing prices, and bananas could be the alternative farmers need.…
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Thailand sees record 1.13 trillion baht foreign investment boost
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed optimism about Thailand’s economic prospects, highlighting significant foreign investment, which reached over 1.13 trillion baht last year, the highest in a decade. In a monthly Empowering Thais TV segment aired by the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, the premier shares her optimism in regards to economic trajectory, despite last year’s 2.5% growth. “We will work…
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Thai Airways reports huge loss but promises strong comeback
Thai Airways International has assured stakeholders that its massive loss for fiscal year 2024 is due to a one-off debt-to-equity conversion and will not hinder its operational performance or planned exit from its rehabilitation programme. The airline reported a staggering loss of 26.901 billion baht, primarily caused by a one-time accounting loss of 45.271 billion baht from the debt-to-equity conversion completed…
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Thai car market hits speed bump, FTI urges govt to drive recovery
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is urging a turbocharged response from the government to rev up the nation’s sputtering car market. Demand for motors has hit a roadblock, with a particular skid in pickup truck sales. According to January’s numbers, it’s been a bumpy ride, causing manufacturers to slam the brakes on production by more than 200,000 units over…
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Who qualifies for 2025 Thailand welfare cards?
Thailand will open registration for a new round of state welfare cards next month, aimed at supporting low-income people and vulnerable groups. It has been two years since the last registration round, from September 5 to October 31, 2022. This time, the government is gearing up to help even more people in need, with a financial aid package of 1,545…
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Rice and fall: Thailand faces grain pains as India lifts export limits
Thailand’s rice market, once riding high, now faces a shaky season as Indian export restrictions relax, threatening to steal the spotlight and curb the kingdom’s grain gains. After a bumper year, it seems that the golden grains might lose their sparkle, casting a shadow on Thailand’s export figures. Despite a slight boost in Thai rice production, set to rise by…
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Thai Union hosts PM in Songkhla to boost seafood industry
Executives from the Thai Union Group Public Company Limited, a global leader in the seafood industry, hosted Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her Cabinet yesterday, February 18. The visit took place at the Thai Union Seafood Company’s frozen seafood processing plant in Songkhla province. The aim was to understand challenges and explore strategies to enhance the competitiveness of Thailand’s fisheries…
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Thai durians remain China’s top choice amid safety upgrades
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has expressed confidence that Thai durians will continue to be the preferred choice in China, following enhancements to food safety and contamination screenings. Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat, after her recent visit to China, reported discussions with Sun Meijun, Minister of the General Administration of Customs of China, concerning Thai fruit imports. Thailand is the leading…
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Thailand’s economic growth hits a snag but hope remains
Thailand’s financial fortunes took a slight dip as the latest economic figures failed to meet the lofty heights analysts had anticipated. Official data reveals a respectable 3.2% growth in the last quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year, which, while promising, didn’t quite hit the 3.9% growth mark predicted by a Reuters poll of analysts. The National Economic and…
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Valentine’s rose prices in Chai Nat hit two-decade high
In Chai Nat, the demand for roses during Valentine’s Day has led to a significant increase in retail prices, reaching a two-decade high, according to local vendors. Rose sales have surged in anticipation of Valentine’s Day, resulting in higher prices at the Chai Nat municipal market. Prices nearly doubled overnight, rising from 10 to 15 baht per flower yesterday, February…
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Single Thais impact wedding industry with shifting social values
A growing number of Thais are opting to stay single, with reasons cited including evolving social values, financial constraints, and mismatched expectations. This trend is impacting businesses associated with romance, such as wedding planners and florists. In 2023, a survey by the National Statistical Office found that one-fifth of Thais were single. Within the reproductive age group of 15 to…
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Ex-alcohol chief toasts potential gains from lifting drink sales ban
Former chairperson of the Alcohol Beverage Business Association recently discussed the potential economic benefits of lifting the ban on alcohol sales from 2pm to 5pm as well as on religious holidays. The move aligns with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s directive to review regulations that hinder economic stimulation and contradict tourism promotion policies. Thanakorn Kuptajit highlighted that revisiting these restrictions, including the…
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Trump’s metal meltdown: Steel yourself for the latest tariff tiff
Donald Trump announced his intention to impose a steep 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports into the United States, a move that promises to heat up trade tensions and could potentially throw a spanner in the works for America’s key trading relationships. Chatting with reporters aboard Air Force One yesterday, February 9, the US president confirmed that these…
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Digital wallet scheme’s third phase to start in second quarter
The third phase of the 10,000 baht digital wallet distribution initiative is set to start in the second quarter of the year, according to Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira. Pichai, who also serves as the Deputy Prime Minister, mentioned that the system for fund distribution is undergoing testing this month and is expected to be fully operational in time for the…
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Fruit frenzy: Contaminated durians to China halt Thai exports
The Department of Agriculture has halted the export operations of 26 durian packing facilities after China returned over 64 tonnes of durians contaminated with Basic Yellow 2 (BY2) today, February 7. The contaminated shipment, valued at over 12 million baht, was discovered following the implementation of stricter measures by the Chinese government. Raphiphat Chandrasriwong, Director General of the Department of…
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Thailand leads ASEAN dairy market with 19 billion baht in revenue
Thailand has emerged as a leader in the ASEAN dairy market, generating over 19 billion baht in revenue, according to a government spokesperson. The country’s strategic use of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) has bolstered exports of processed milk products across ASEAN. Anukool Pruksanusak, deputy spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, reported that Thailand has maintained its top position in ASEAN…
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Pattaya offers free Thai massages: Free job training
Pattaya residents and visitors can now enjoy free Thai massages and foot reflexology, thanks to a city initiative aimed at boosting employment and tackling poverty. Mayor Poramet Ngampichet recently visited a Thai massage and foot massage training programme, where participants were honing their skills as part of their certification process. Organised by the Social Welfare Office, the initiative aligns with…
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US tariffs could flood Thai market with cheap Chinese goods
Thailand may soon be swamped with an influx of cheap Chinese imports if the United States slaps high tariffs on Chinese goods, warns former Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai. The country must brace itself for economic turbulence, or risk being caught off guard. Speaking at the Chula Thailand Presidents Summit 2025 at Chulalongkorn University, Surakiart cautioned that if the US tightens trade…
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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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