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.
-
Thailand hits 60-year investment record as Amazon, Google, BYD and others bet big
If you only looked at the investment scoreboard for Southeast Asian economies last year, chances are you would probably want to skip over Thailand. While Vietnam was sprinting ahead with 7% growth and Indonesia held steady at 5%, Thailand was limping with a meagre 2.4%. With the IMF recently cutting its 2026 projection to a dismal 1.6%, the narrative that…
-
16 restaurants seized in Bang Tao beach encroachment crackdown
huket authorities seized five rai of Choeng Talay coastline after discovering restaurants unlawfully charging access fees, prompting imminent legal prosecution against investors. Phuket Deputy Governor Rungruang Thimabut led a joint operation to inspect the area. Officials discovered private investors had fenced off the public beach. They built 16 restaurants and other commercial structures on the site. These operators restricted public…
-
Fujiseiki showcases TSDH shari ball machine at THAIFEX-HOREC ASIA 2026
Japanese food-production equipment manufacturer Fujiseiki Co., Ltd. said it is advancing automation-focused production systems as demand grows for efficient operations that maintain consistent quality, hygiene and safety standards in food manufacturing. Published by Global Kigyo, the report said Fujiseiki has built an international reputation for developing machines that produce artisan Japanese foods such as sushi and onigiri to match the…
-
CP Group signs MoU with SEGA to explore ASEAN IP growth
CP Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japan-based SEGA Corporation to explore entertainment business opportunities in Thailand and the ASEAN region, the companies announced yesterday, April 27. The agreement focuses on combining SEGA’s global intellectual property (IP) and content development expertise with CP Group’s business ecosystem and regional network. Under the MoU, both parties will begin by studying…
-
US-Iran conflict forces Thai airlines to slash capacity
The ongoing US-Iran conflict, now two months old, has triggered an oil price shock that is squeezing airlines worldwide, driving up living costs and causing widespread flight cancellations. A deepening jet fuel crisis is forcing carriers, including those in Thailand, to cut capacity in the coming months, putting pressure on both airlines and airports. Thai airlines are facing serious financial…
-
Kao’s NEWTLAC earns Material Innovation Awards 2025 for sustainable asphalt innovation
Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co., Ltd. has announced that NEWTLAC, a chemical innovation that repurposes used PET plastic bottles into an asphalt additive, has won the Material Innovation Awards 2025 at Architect Lanna 2025. The company said the additive is designed to enhance road construction performance while supporting sustainability goals by converting recycled plastic waste into what it described as green…
-
Unemployment looms as PTT ‘tests’ self-service fuelling
PTT Oil and Retail Business (OR) has officially launched a self-service fuelling option at PTT Station outlets across Thailand, offering drivers a discount of 40 satang per litre with no minimum purchase required. The rollout, framed under an “easy and smart” concept, is designed to cut waiting times during peak hours and give customers full control of the refuelling process.…
-
Thai Senate committee proposes a 3% VAT hike in new tax reform
Thailand’s Economic, Financial and Fiscal Affairs Committee of the Senate proposed a tax reform plan to address the country’s fiscal deficit and rising public debt, including a proposal to raise value-added tax (VAT) from 7% to 10%. The committee, chaired by Kamphol Supapaeng, discussed the tax restructuring plan yesterday, April 19, as part of efforts to tackle long-term fiscal challenges.…
-
Is day trading legal in Thailand? (2026 guide)
A lot of people living, or at least staying, in Thailand get into trading and only think to ask this question after they’ve already opened an account somewhere. So, if you’re asking it now, before putting any money down, well done and read on! But essentially, day trading is legal in Thailand. But depending on what you are trading and…
-
Thai flight cuts lead to 10% drop in outbound travel
Flight cancellations and capacity reductions are expected to push outbound trips down by 15 to 20% during the low season, with a 10% decline projected across the full year. Several Thai carriers have trimmed their schedules on specific routes. Thai AirAsia X has pulled back on its Bangkok to Sapporo service, while Thai AirAsia has reduced flights to China for…
-
Thai Airways cuts May flights across Asia, Europe
Thai Airways has reduced flight frequencies across domestic, Asian and European routes for May in response to weaker tourism demand and high fuel costs. The schedule, reported as of yesterday, April 16, affects key routes from May 1 onwards, with some reductions lasting until the end of the month. On domestic routes, flights to Khon Kaen will be reduced from…
-
Japan pledges US$10 billion to tackle energy crisis in Asia
Japan pledged US$10 billion, or around 300 billion baht, to support Asian countries in addressing the energy crisis, citing the close links and interdependence created by supply chains. After a meeting with leaders from Asian countries, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae announced that the funding would be directed to countries in Asia, particularly in Southeast Asia, to help secure crude…
-
US banks warned of cyber risks from new AI model
Top executives from major American banks were warned by a senior US government official about potential cyberattack risks linked to a new artificial intelligence model from Anthropic, with a closed-door meeting held in Washington, DC. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addressed a select group of bank CEOs, including those from Bank of America, Citi, and Wells Fargo, warning that integrating the…
-
Thai economy braces for stagflation amid Iran war: How real estate must pivot to survive
The secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), Danucha Pichayanan, said that the prolonged conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz for over a month had significantly impacted global energy market confidence. Iran has proposed negotiation conditions, such as the withdrawal of US military bases from the Middle East. This marks an initial stance for…
-
Oil firms deny plans to sue government over diesel price controls
Two oil refineries denied legal action against the Thai government after the Ministry of Energy ordered a reduction in the diesel refining fee to lower retail prices during the ongoing energy crisis. Energy Minister Akanat Promphan announced on April 7 that the refining margin for diesel types B7 and B20 would be cut by 2 baht. He added that retail…
-
Agoda’s plan to make everything possible for its partners in 2026
Most people know Agoda as the app they use to book a hotel. What is less visible is the scale of what the company is building behind the scenes, a B2B partner ecosystem that powers travel for banks, airlines, retail platforms, and loyalty programmes across the globe. At a media roundtable held at Agoda’s new office in One Bangkok, two…
-
Thailand plans overnight petrol station restrictions after April 20
Thailand could begin restricting fuel station operating hours after April 20, with petrol stations potentially closing from 10pm to 5am as the government considers energy-saving measures amid conflict in the Middle East. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said yesterday, on April 7, that the government is working on oil-saving measures to ensure the country has enough fuel for domestic use. He…
-
AirAsia ticket prices rise 40% as fuel costs stay sky-high
AirAsia X is raising ticket prices by up to 40% as soaring jet fuel costs linked to the Middle Eastern conflict put fresh pressure on airlines across Asia. The carrier said yesterday, April 6, that higher oil prices had become its most serious challenge, with jet fuel costs doubling in recent weeks. The increase is forcing the long-haul low-cost airline…
-
What is a refining margin, and why is it soaring during the Iran war?
Drivers are currently sweating over high gas station prices. A major cause is the conflict in Iran. Economic news often highlights rising refinery margins. The normal margin is two baht, but it recently exceeded 17 baht. Understanding the refinery margin is straightforward. A merchant buys oranges at a certain price to squeeze and sell bottled juice at a higher price.…
-
Thailand’s digital entertainment shift raises questions about user trends
Thailand’s digital landscape is changing rapidly, with more users spending time on online platforms for entertainment, information, and everyday convenience. As discussions around entertainment complexes and digital regulation continue, attention is also turning to how people engage with different types of online content, including interactive formats that are growing quietly in popularity. A Growing Appetite for Digital Platforms Over the…
-
Microsoft to invest US$1 billion in Thailand’s cloud and AI by 2028
Microsoft has announced it will invest more than US$1 billion in Thailand between 2026 and 2028 to develop cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, aiming to strengthen the country’s competitiveness globally and to upskill digital skills for millions of people nationwide. Brad Smith, Microsoft’s vice chair and president, said the company is focusing on what it calls the diffusion rate…
-
Thailand freezes fares, offers fuel subsidies after 6-baht pump price shock
The Ministry of Transport has introduced targeted fuel subsidies for four specific transport groups from April 1 to 30, 2026. At the same time, it is freezing public transport fares to ensure affordable travel during the Songkran festival. The move follows a sharp retail fuel price hike of 6 baht per liter on March 26, 2026, by the Fuel Fund…
-
SCB X CEO warns Thailand’s economy is ‘melting’ and cash handouts won’t fix it
Arthid Nanthawithaya, Chief Executive Officer of SCB X, has issued a warning regarding the current state of the Thai economy. He noted that the present crisis differs significantly from past events like the 1997 financial crash. Moreover, he emphasized that the current volatility is not a temporary phase. Instead, it is a permanent shift that will become more frequent and…
-
Rights holder accuses Thai publisher of unlicensed comics sales
Tong Li Publishing Co., Ltd issued a Thai-language statement today, March 26, alleging that Thailand-based publisher BURAPAT COMICS has been printing, distributing and selling the comic Hongsa Chom Rachan without legal authorisation. Hongsa Chom Rachan is the Thai release of The Ravages of Time, a Chinese-language historical comic series from Hong Kong set in the Three Kingdoms era that has…
-
OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky dies of cancer at 43
OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky has died at 43 years old after a battle with cancer, the company said yesterday, March 23, announcing the death of the entrepreneur who oversaw the subscription platform through its parent company. In a statement, an OnlyFans spokesperson said, “We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Leo Radvinsky. Leo passed away peacefully after a…
-
Business class flights to Thailand in 2026: Best routes, airlines, and what’s changed
For U.S. travellers heading to Thailand, business class in 2026 still means a one-stop journey, and that makes the routing decision almost as important as the cabin itself. With no nonstop business class flights to Thailand currently available, the quality of the trip depends not only on the airline but also on the connection city, total travel time, and how…
-
FUSO Thailand reshapes organisational structure with new CEO and CFO appointments, accelerating full-force commercial vehicle strategy
FUSO Commercial Vehicles (Thailand) Ltd. (FCVT) has announced a significant corporate restructuring, adjusting its reporting line directly to the Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) in Japan. The company has appointed two Thai senior executives: Jakkrapong Santirat as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Thitipol Wongthanakul as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), to drive the FUSO brand strategy in Thailand’s commercial vehicle…
-
HKTDC launches GreenBiz HK campaign in Bangkok
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) organised the GreenBiz HK campaign in Bangkok, comprising a GreenBiz HK Forum with dedicated thematic sessions, networking events and business matching meetings, alongside a Hong Kong Green Team delegation. The campaign aims to foster collaboration between Hong Kong and Thailand in the green economy. One of the highlights, the GreenBiz HK Forum, was…
-
Transport Ministry denies Khlong Saen Saep boat fare hike rumours
The Transport Ministry has denied reports that passenger boat fares on Bangkok’s Khlong Saen Saep canal will rise by 1 baht per segment this week, saying the operator has confirmed there has been no change to the current rates. The clarification followed claims that Khlong Saen Saep boat fares would increase from 11 to 21 baht to 12 to 22 baht,…
-
AEROTHAI says 1,000+ Middle East flights to Thailand cancelled
More than 1,000 flights to Thailand have been cancelled by airlines from the Middle East since February 28, according to Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI), as the regional conflict continues to affect traffic through Thai airspace. Surachai Nuprom, AEROTHAI’s deputy executive director and acting executive director, said today, March 18, that the impact on flight volumes in Thailand has become…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.