泰国贸易竞争委员会正在制定新的监管指南，以应对主要由外国运营的电商平台的反竞争行为，预计将于2025年9月实施。该草案基于2017年《贸易竞争法》，旨在防止垄断行为，确保泰国企业的公平竞争。

其中的关键条款包括要求平台为商家提供多种配送服务选择，而不是强制使用平台自身的物流服务。当局还计划审查一些卖家，特别是通过跨境平台销售进口商品的卖家使用人为低价的行为。

此举是为了回应人们对不受监管的外国卖家的担忧。这些卖家在诸如Lazada和Shopee等占主导地位的平台上，以通常绕过泰国质量和安全法规的低成本商品，削弱了当地商家的竞争力。据Creden数据显示，Shopee（泰国）和Lazada（泰国）在2024年分别实现了499亿泰铢和282亿泰铢的收入，显示出其在该领域的持续主导地位。[曼谷邮报]

与此同时，泰国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）已正式与Lazada和Shopee——东南亚最大的两家电商平台——展开合作，以加强对在线销售的健康相关产品的监管。该倡议旨在严格执法泰国公共卫生法规，以应对通过跨境数字渠道销售的未经注册和质量低下的医疗及保健产品日益增多的担忧。

合作的核心是实施积极的监管和合规机制。在2023年9月至2024年期间，由阿里巴巴集团运营的Lazada删除了9454个不符合规定的商品列表，并将30个卖家除名，同时对134个卖家启动了法律程序。作为Sea集团子公司的Shopee也采取了类似措施，包括实时下架违反FDA法规的产品，并向卖家分发合规材料。

为了促进更系统的执法，FDA正准备推出一个基于API的数据集成系统，使该机构与平台运营商之间能够安全、实时地交换监管信息。该系统的推出将伴随着为FDA检查员和电商合规团队提供的培训项目，重点是泰国政府的执法请求门户网站，这是一个安全的跨机构执法工具。

一个联合检查框架也在开发中，该框架得到了一个旨在增强在线健康产品领域监管和执法能力的下一代数字检查系统的支持。 [Tilleke & Gibbins]

泰国能源部正在起草一项新法律，以简化和降低家庭安装太阳能屋顶系统的成本。该法案旨在简化目前需要五个机构批准的复杂流程，用更快速的通知系统取代许可证，并防止事后撤销。

草案还计划通过税收优惠和低息贷款改善融资选择，建立一站式服务中心以提供支持，制定国家安全标准，并依法保护个人在家中生产清洁能源的权利。公众咨询将于5月30日结束，草案将于6月提交内阁，7月提交国会审议[泰国]

泰国工业联合会（FTI）对所谓的“零元工厂”表示日益担忧。这些工厂是由外国拥有并经营的，通过在泰国使用代理安排，据称对国内经济贡献甚微。这些企业被怀疑利用泰国代理人建立运营，同时将利润转移到国外，破坏了公平竞争，削弱了工业发展。

FTI最近对47个行业的145名高管进行的一项调查显示，86.9%的人认为这些工厂对泰国制造业产生了显著的负面影响。食品加工和轻工业部门尤其受到影响，这些部门已经受到消费者需求低迷和全球贸易不确定性的压力，特别是受到美国政策变化的驱动。

这种担忧部分源于监管空白。根据调查，这些运营的最常见促成因素是存在法律漏洞，允许外国投资者通过代理结构绕过限制（74.5%），其次是与贸易战规避相关的生产转移（58.6%）、投资促进政策（26.9%）以及外国投资者所在国家更严格的环境法规（24.8%）。

作为回应，泰国工业部已成立一个特别工作组，以调查并采取执法行动，打击非法或经济上具有剥削性的运营。虽然52.4%的行业高管支持收紧工厂设立标准，但51.7%的人还呼吁对代理企业进行更严厉的打击。此外，31.7%的人主张加强对涉嫌企业的税务合规和雇佣实践的监管。[曼谷邮报]

Bangkok Bank, Thailand’s largest commercial bank by assets, has introduced stricter eligibility criteria for foreign nationals seeking to open deposit accounts, apply for credit cards, or access mobile banking services. The move is part of a broader effort to align with enhanced national cybersecurity measures and combat financial fraud, including the use of so-called "mule accounts."

Under the new rules, foreigners must now hold a long-term visa—such as a retirement, work, or family-related non-immigrant visa—or demonstrate established ties to Thailand through property ownership or marriage to a Thai national. Tourists, including holders of the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), which allows stays of up to 180 days, are no longer permitted to open new accounts. Foreigners already holding accounts may be subject to additional identity verification measures, including biometric scans, particularly if flagged as high-risk.

The shift appears to have already affected Russian nationals in particular, with reports of account freezes and blocked cards surfacing on social media and being confirmed by the Bangkok Community Help Foundation. While Bangkok Bank has not confirmed any nationality-specific measures, it has acknowledged increased scrutiny and advised affected clients to contact branches for resolution.

The central bank has backed the tightening of procedures and is preparing to issue new digital fraud prevention guidelines. These will require all commercial banks to adopt more rigorous customer due diligence, risk profiling, and identity verification measures—especially for accounts opened digitally or involving high-risk individuals.

The policy shift comes in response to growing concerns over financial crimes facilitated through lax account-opening procedures. Last week, four employees of another commercial bank in Pattaya were implicated in enabling call center scams by assisting in the creation of fraudulent accounts. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand has launched a national data bank aimed at centralizing the collection, management, and integration of big data across government agencies to support policymaking, service delivery, and innovation. The initiative is spearheaded by the Big Data Institute (BDI), under the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, in collaboration with the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA).

The data bank is part of a broader strategy to transform Thailand’s fragmented data ecosystem into a cohesive, interoperable infrastructure. At its core is the Data Integration and Intelligence Platform (D-II), designed to link existing datasets across sectors via tools such as a Data Linkage Engine and a standardized Data Catalog. Projects like Health Link, Travel Link, and the City Data Platform already exemplify this shift toward data-driven governance.

Aligned with the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Committee’s policy goals, the initiative also supports the development of ThaiLLM—an open-source large language model for the Thai language. ThaiLLM is intended to serve as foundational AI infrastructure accessible to public and private actors nationwide, enhancing domestic capacity in AI development and digital transformation. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has instructed its management to submit a revised, more conclusive report within 60 days on the future of the broadcasting sector. The directive follows a preliminary study that the board found lacking in strategic depth and clarity.

The NBTC board is seeking detailed projections on how many of the remaining 15 digital television channels—down from 24 licensed in 2013—will remain operational when their current licenses expire in 2029. The decline reflects sustained financial pressure and structural market shifts, particularly the rise of streaming and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, which have eroded advertising revenues and terrestrial viewership. Today, only 15 percent of Thai viewers still consume content via terrestrial broadcasts, compared to near-universal coverage in the past.

The board is also reviewing potential policy options to support the remaining operators, including cost reductions in broadcast network operations. However, NBTC Chairman Dr. Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck rejected proposals to bypass competitive bidding for future digital TV licenses, emphasizing that such changes would require parliamentary amendment, beyond the regulator’s remit.

The Association of Digital Television Broadcasting (ADTEB) has previously urged the NBTC to extend license terms to shield broadcasters from further market erosion. In parallel, the NBTC is preparing regulatory guidelines for internet audio broadcasts and oversight of OTT services, which will be subject to public hearings. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand’s upcoming mobile spectrum license auction has attracted only two major bidders—Advanced Info Service (AIS) and True Corporation—raising concerns over market concentration. On May 29, both companies submitted bids for the 2100MHz and 2300MHz bands, the only day allowed by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) for applications.

The auction, scheduled for June 29, includes four frequency bands: 850MHz, 1500MHz, 2100MHz, and 2300MHz. Each bidder submitted proposals with bank guarantees equivalent to 10 percent of the reserve price per band. For instance:

· Two 10MHz blocks in the 850MHz band are priced at THB 7.7 billion (USD 223 million) each.

· Eleven 5MHz blocks in the 1500MHz band are priced at THB 1 billion (USD 29 million) each.

· Three 10MHz blocks in the 2100MHz band are priced at THB 4.5 billion (USD 131 million) each.

· Seven 10MHz blocks in the 2300MHz band are priced at THB 2.59 billion (USD 75 million) each.

AIS and True Corp stated that their participation was based on strategic evaluations, aimed at maximizing service efficiency and supporting Thailand’s broader digital economy goals.

However, the lack of competition has drawn criticism. A coalition led by the Thailand Consumer Council filed a petition with the Central Administrative Court to cancel the auction, warning it could entrench monopolistic structures and harm consumer interests. [Bangkok Post]

Only 7 percent of organizations in Thailand have achieved a mature level of cybersecurity readiness in 2025, down from 9 percent the previous year, according to Cisco’s latest Cybersecurity Readiness Index. The findings point to a worrying decline in preparedness as businesses face increasing risks from hyper-connectivity, artificial intelligence (AI), and shadow AI deployments.

Cisco’s global survey assessed 8,000 private-sector security and business leaders across 30 markets using five core pillars: identity intelligence, network resilience, machine trustworthiness, cloud reinforcement, and AI fortification. Thailand’s low score indicates limited capacity to respond effectively to growing cyberthreats, despite rising AI adoption in security operations.

While 98 percent of Thai organizations use AI for threat detection, only 42 percent feel confident in identifying unregulated AI use by employees. Nearly half of IT teams are unaware of staff using generative AI tools, posing data privacy and security risks. Furthermore, 90 percent of respondents cited increased exposure from remote work, particularly when employees use unmanaged devices.

Despite high risk awareness, investment remains insufficient. Only 51 percent of organizations dedicate more than 10 percent of their IT budgets to cybersecurity—a drop from 66 percent the year before. In parallel, a severe talent shortage persists, with 94 percent citing challenges in recruiting cybersecurity professionals. [Bangkok Post]

Thai police have arrested a 64-year-old woman in Bangkok suspected of leading a tax evasion scheme involving eight companies accused of defrauding the government of over THB 800 million (USD 23.2 million). The arrest followed a complaint from the Revenue Department, which flagged all eight firms for irregularities including unreported income, falsified tax records, and use of fake company directors.

Investigators found the companies registered at a single residential address and nominally run by low-wage workers acting as proxies. One such proxy—a housekeeper—led police to the suspect, who is accused of coordinating the operation. She denied all charges and claimed to be merely a hired broker. Legal proceedings are now underway. [Bangkok Post]

Thai authorities have arrested a 30-year-old Chinese man in Pattaya for allegedly running a fraudulent online marketplace that defrauded users through fake transactions and blocked fund withdrawals. The scheme, operated via a Facebook group with over 200 members, lured victims into transferring money through a fake second-hand goods platform.

After receiving reports from victims who lost up to USD 600 and were later pressured to pay more, police traced the money flow to mule accounts linked to the suspect. Assets worth over USD 260,000—including cash, luxury goods, and vehicles—were seized. The suspect remains in custody, and the investigation is ongoing. [Bangkok Post]]

Thailand’s Revenue Department is studying the reintroduction of an outbound travel tax on Thai nationals, decades after the levy was abolished due to high collection costs and limited effectiveness. The proposal comes as the government seeks new revenue sources, including through tax exemptions to incentivize the repatriation of foreign income, but faces mounting criticism over timing and economic impact.

The outbound travel tax, distinct from the THB 700 (USD 20) departure tax already included in international airfares, was originally introduced in 1981 during an economic crisis to stem capital outflows. It was later phased out due to operational inefficiencies, such as requiring travelers to buy coupons at airports.

Current discussions focus on modernized payment methods, including integration with the mobile app of state-owned Krungthai Bank. However, tourism stakeholders warn that reviving the tax now would harm travel sentiment and recovery efforts, especially as outbound travel remains subdued. Industry figures argue that Thailand should prioritize policies that facilitate bilateral travel flows—vital to maintaining international air routes—rather than adding burdensome fees on individual travelers. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand’s Revenue Department is studying the reintroduction of an outbound travel tax on Thai nationals, decades after the levy was abolished due to high collection costs and limited effectiveness. The proposal comes as the government seeks new revenue sources, including through tax exemptions to incentivize the repatriation of foreign income, but faces mounting criticism over timing and economic impact.

The outbound travel tax, distinct from the THB 700 (USD 20) departure tax already included in international airfares, was originally introduced in 1981 during an economic crisis to stem capital outflows. It was later phased out due to operational inefficiencies, such as requiring travelers to buy coupons at airports.

Current discussions focus on modernized payment methods, including integration with the mobile app of state-owned Krungthai Bank. However, tourism stakeholders warn that reviving the tax now would harm travel sentiment and recovery efforts, especially as outbound travel remains subdued. Industry figures argue that Thailand should prioritize policies that facilitate bilateral travel flows—vital to maintaining international air routes—rather than adding burdensome fees on individual travelers. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand’s economic outlook for 2025 has strengthened following robust export growth and tentative signs of recovery in domestic economic indicators. The Ministry of Commerce has raised its export growth target to over 4 percent, up from an earlier estimate of 2–3 percent, after recording a 14 percent year-on-year increase in the first four months. Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan cited growing confidence in the country's ability to convert global uncertainties into strategic opportunities, particularly in the second half of the year.

To sustain this momentum, the government is focusing on trade resilience and structural competitiveness. Initiatives include boosting local content in manufacturing, forging joint ventures with Chinese partners, and strengthening ties with U.S. firms. Agricultural products such as rice and cassava have been prioritized for new market access, while Thailand is also being promoted as a regional hub for software, hardware, and printed circuit board production.

Efforts to expand global market access are underpinned by accelerated negotiations for free trade agreements (FTAs) with the European Union, United Kingdom, South Korea, and through the ASEAN-Canada framework. Minister Pichai is scheduled to meet with EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič on June 4, aiming to conclude the FTA with the EU by year’s end. Export strategies are being targeted toward five key regions: the United States, India, the Middle East, ASEAN, and China—using a mix of soft power branding, FTA leverage, and closer coordination between Thai commerce offices and trade envoys abroad.

The April 2025 economic data released by the Fiscal Policy Office reinforces this cautiously optimistic outlook. Exports in April reached USD 25.6 billion, marking a 10.2 percent year-on-year increase and extending a streak of ten consecutive months of export growth. Meanwhile, domestic car registrations rose by 2.6 percent, the first increase in 15 months, though overall year-to-date figures remain below earlier levels. Motorcycle registrations also increased, and private investment showed signs of life with a 22.8 percent rise in capital goods imports.

However, some indicators highlight ongoing fragility. Foreign tourist arrivals fell by 7.6 percent year-on-year in April, continuing a downward trend that has left year-to-date arrivals 0.3 percent below the previous year. Consumer confidence also dipped, reflecting concerns about high living costs and global trade tensions.

Thailand’s macroeconomic fundamentals remain stable. Headline inflation turned negative in April at minus 0.22 percent, while core inflation stood at 0.98 percent. Public debt-to-GDP remains within fiscal limits at 64.4 percent, and international reserves were recorded at USD 257 billion as of April’s end, reflecting solid external stability. These indicators, combined with a trade-focused policy shift, suggest cautious optimism for sustained recovery in the months ahead. [Bangkok Post 1] [Bangkok Post 2]

A total of 3,921 businesses shut down in Thailand during the first four months of 2025, an 8.3 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Department of Business Development. The closures, representing a combined registered capital of THB 15.99 billion (USD 463 million), were concentrated in three sectors: general construction, real estate, and restaurants.

Notably, these same sectors also saw the highest number of new business registrations during the same period—suggesting a pattern of high turnover rather than long-term decline. New registrations totaled 30,148, down 4.4 percent year-on-year, with construction, real estate, and food service leading the entries.

Authorities attributed the rise in closures to heavy household debt, reduced consumer spending, global economic uncertainty, and shifting U.S. trade policies. Analysts warned of further factory closures this year, citing structural weaknesses in the manufacturing sector. [Bangkok Post]

Kasikornbank (KBank), Thailand’s third-largest commercial lender by assets, reported sluggish performance across all loan categories during the first five months of 2025, citing a weak domestic economy, persistent household debt, and uncertainty over U.S. tariff policy. According to KBank’s co-president, retail, SME, and corporate lending all slowed, with many businesses adopting a wait-and-see approach as Washington postponed tariff increases for 90 days.

While the bank did not release specific figures for loan growth, it reaffirmed its conservative outlook, maintaining a flat loan growth target and aiming to keep non-performing loans below 3.25 percent—down slightly from 3.19 percent in March.

Sectors such as exports and textiles, particularly those linked to U.S. markets, are seen as vulnerable, while KBank anticipates gains in cross-border trade and investment banking, especially from production base relocations triggered by geopolitical tensions. [Bangkok Post]

The Dusit Thani Group, one of Thailand’s most iconic hospitality brands, is experiencing an escalating internal crisis that has cast serious doubt on its corporate governance and strategic stability. At the center of the controversy is a power struggle among the heirs of company founder Thanphuying Chanut Piyaoui, who collectively control 49.74 percent of Dusit Thani Public Company Limited through Chanut and Sons Co., Ltd. This family-controlled entity has blocked key board appointments and refused to approve the company’s 2024 financial statements, despite the statements being audited and compliant with accounting standards.

The shareholder impasse began at the annual general meeting in April 2025 and continued into May, culminating in the rejection of four director reappointments and leaving the company with only eight board members. Tensions between the founder’s children—particularly between CEO Chanin Donavanik and his sisters Sinee Thienprasiddhi and Sunong Salirathavibhaga—have intensified since the founder's death in 2020. The sisters have consolidated control of Chanut and Sons Co. and removed Chanin from its board in February, a move widely interpreted as a bid to steer company leadership away from his influence.

Although Dusit Thani avoided an immediate trading suspension by submitting its first-quarter 2025 financial results ahead of the May 15 deadline, the Stock Exchange of Thailand has flagged investor caution and awaits shareholder confirmation of the annual auditor at the rescheduled meeting on May 28. CEO Suphajee Suthumpun has assured stakeholders that business operations remain uninterrupted, emphasizing there has been no change in the executive structure and that strategic projects, including the Dusit Central Park development, are progressing as planned.

Financially, the group posted Q1 2025 revenue of THB 2.38 billion (USD 65 million), up 10 percent year-on-year, with gains in hotel operations, school catering services, and education. However, net profit dropped 60.7 percent to THB 48 million (USD 1.3 million) due to rising costs and reduced exchange gains. For 2024, the company reported record revenue of THB 11.2 billion (USD 306 million) but still recorded a net loss of THB 237 million (USD 6.5 million) due primarily to bond and lease-related financial costs.

Analysts warn that unresolved shareholder disputes could jeopardize future investment plans and erode confidence in one of Thailand’s flagship hotel brands. A 2.7 percent drop in Dusit Thani shares following the latest governance deadlock underscores investor unease. [Bangkok Post] [The Nation]

Shares in Berli Jucker (BJC) and Asset World Corp (AWC) declined on May 27 after Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi transferred ownership of both firms to his five children through the family holding company Sutthasup 9. BJC, a major Thai retail and packaging conglomerate, and AWC, a leading hospitality and real estate firm, both issued statements assuring that the ownership restructuring would not affect existing management or business strategy.

Charoen, Thailand’s second-richest person, has been gradually stepping away from executive roles in his business empire. He recently resigned from leadership positions at Frasers Property and Fraser and Neave but remains chairman of TCC Group, which oversees extensive interests in real estate, beverages, and retail. His children already serve as chief executives across key subsidiaries including BJC, AWC, Thai Beverage, and Frasers Property.

BJC shares dropped 2.9 percent, while AWC fell 1.5 percent amid initial investor uncertainty. However, analysts emphasized that these short-term reactions reflect standard market behavior during ownership transitions, not structural risks. BJC outperformed its sector with more than 2 percent same-store sales growth in Q1 2025, driven by gains in the fresh food segment. AWC affirmed its continued focus on long-term shareholder value under stable leadership. [Bangkok Post]

Export Development Canada (EDC), Canada’s export credit agency, has opened a new representative office in Bangkok to deepen economic ties with Thailand and expand its Indo-Pacific outreach. The Bangkok office joins a growing network of EDC branches across Asia, including locations in New Delhi, Shanghai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Singapore.

The move reflects Canada’s strategic focus on Southeast Asia as a priority market for trade and investment. According to EDC, the Bangkok office supported over 200 Canadian businesses operating in Thailand in 2024, generating more than USD 350 million in commercial activity.

Key areas identified for enhanced bilateral collaboration include agribusiness, agricultural technology, bio-industrial innovation, and energy infrastructure. EDC President and CEO Alison Nankivell emphasized the alignment between Canadian capabilities—particularly in oil and gas, critical minerals, and engineering—and Thailand’s goals of improving agricultural productivity and strengthening industrial value chains. [Canadian Manufacturing] [Bangkok Post]

The Housing Developer Sentiment Index for Greater Bangkok, Thailand’s largest urban and economic hub with a combined population of over 15 million, fell sharply to 42.0 in the first quarter of 2025, marking the fourth-lowest level since the index was launched in 2007, according to the Real Estate Information Center (REIC).

Previous troughs in the index were recorded during the 2011 floods, the 2008 global financial crisis, and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. The current reading dropped 8.4 points from the previous quarter and is significantly below the neutral threshold of 50, which separates positive from negative sentiment.

REIC attributed the downturn to a combination of structural and external pressures: elevated household debt levels, tighter mortgage rules, geopolitical instability, and the uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariff policies. The sentiment survey was conducted prior to the major earthquake on March 28.

Despite this low confidence level, the expectations index—reflecting the outlook for the next six months—remained slightly positive at 52.3, although it too fell from 64.3 in the previous quarter. Developers anticipate that recent government property incentives and the easing of loan-to-value requirements, in effect through June 2026, could help revive the market later this year. [Bangkok Post] 

Wind Energy Holding, Thailand’s largest wind power producer, has announced a THB 65 billion (approximately USD 1.77 billion) expansion plan to nearly triple its domestic generating capacity from 700 megawatts to 2,000 megawatts by 2037. The company currently operates eight wind farms in the northeastern provinces of Chaiyaphum and Nakhon Ratchasima and plans to finance the expansion through an initial public offering (IPO) on the Stock Exchange of Thailand once pending legal matters are resolved.

The expansion aligns with the Thai government's broader target to add 16,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity—including nuclear—by 2037, aiming to raise the clean energy share of total generation from 23 percent to over one-third.

Wind Energy’s IPO was delayed due to unresolved disputes stemming from past ownership conflicts. The company’s founder, Nopporn Suppipat, fled Thailand in 2014 after being charged under the lese-majeste law, a development he claims was politically motivated. A U.K. court ruled in his favor in 2023, awarding over USD 800 million in compensation related to the forced sale of his shares.

Despite revenue and income falling by over 20 percent in 2024, Wind Energy says it has already secured land and vendors in preparation for upcoming renewable energy auctions and is also exploring potential projects in the Philippines. The company’s plans reflect cautious optimism in a global wind sector still recovering from high input costs and declining installations outside China. [Bangkok Post]

Thai coconut water exporters are facing increasing competition from Chinese investors, who have shifted from importing Thai products to producing them locally through vertically integrated operations, particularly in Ratchaburi province. These Chinese-operated facilities are reportedly exporting nearly all of their production directly to China, with a small portion sent to other markets.

The vertical integration—spanning cultivation, processing, and logistics—enables Chinese investors to undercut Thai competitors by offering lower prices. Thai producers also allege that some Chinese-owned factories may be engaging in tax avoidance and exploiting regulatory loopholes by operating from easily relocatable facilities such as container-box offices.

Trade figures reinforce the scale of Chinese market dominance: in 2024, Thailand exported 257,428 tons of coconut products, valued at USD 217.4 million (approximately THB 7.5 billion). Of that, 82.7 percent went to China, 7.1 percent to the United States, 2.1 percent to Hong Kong, 1.6 percent to Singapore, and 1.5 percent to the Netherlands. [The Nation]

Thailand is intensifying efforts to reposition its rice export sector by emphasizing quality and sustainability in response to declining demand and intensifying competition in global markets. At the 10th Thailand Rice Convention (TRC) 2025 held in Bangkok, the government unveiled a strategy to promote high-value rice varieties, including jasmine, organic, low-carbon, GI-certified, and halal rice, aimed particularly at premium markets in the European Union, Japan, and the Middle East.

The convention, expected to generate over 100,000 metric tons in trade deals and more than THB 2 billion (USD 60 million) in revenue, signals a strategic shift away from competing on volume toward product differentiation aligned with evolving consumer preferences and international sustainability standards. This initiative falls under Thailand’s broader “Kitchen of the World” campaign, which seeks to secure the country’s place in global food supply chains.

The policy shift comes amid mounting pressures, including India’s expected re-entry into global rice markets, a 30 percent drop in Thai rice export volume in early 2025 due to weakening demand from countries such as Indonesia, and currency strength, with a robust Thai baht making exports less competitive. Compounding the challenge are U.S. trade policy uncertainties and rising global production, especially in India, where favorable monsoon forecasts are expected to increase crop yields.

Despite these headwinds, Thailand’s benchmark 5 percent broken white rice held steady this week at USD 405 to USD 410 per metric ton, according to traders. However, export activity remains subdued, with no major new deals reported, as ample supply from the recent harvest enters the market and demand remains muted.

In contrast, regional competitors such as Vietnam and India are also seeing weak demand. Vietnam’s 5 percent broken rice fell slightly to USD 396 per ton, while India’s equivalent dropped to a near two-year low of USD 382 to USD 389 per ton. Regulatory issues in Vietnam, particularly restrictions on warehouse ownership for exporters, have further constrained market activity. [Bangkok Post 1] [Bangkok Post 2]

Thailand is emerging as a leading luxury retail hub in Southeast Asia, with its market valued at USD 4.4 billion and projected to grow by approximately 5 percent annually through 2028, according to CBRE Thailand. This growth is being fueled by a strong synergy between the country's tourism sector—bolstered by 35.5 million international arrivals in 2024—and rapid expansion in premium retail space, including over 410,000 square meters of new shopping mall developments in central Bangkok.

The rise of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), long-term visa programs, and Thailand’s reputation as a regional “safe haven” have further enhanced its attractiveness to luxury brands. Developers are increasingly prioritizing high-end tenants in prime urban locations such as Bangkok’s Lumpini area and Phuket, with flagship projects including Central Embassy, DIOR Gold House, and expansions at Siam Paragon and Central Phuket Floresta.

Retailers are also investing in experiential and integrated retail formats, such as Gaysorn Village’s “LV The Place Bangkok,” blending high-end shopping with cultural and lifestyle experiences. Demand for strategic locations with transit access and high visibility is driving innovation in layout design and tenant curation, while services such as multilingual assistance and tax-free shopping cater to both tourists and affluent local consumers. [Bangkok Post]

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has expressed interest in investing in Thailand’s Land Bridge project, citing its potential to benefit both Southeast Asia and East Asia by reducing transport costs and shortening shipping times.

The Land Bridge, a flagship infrastructure initiative of Thailand’s current administration, envisions a deep-sea port system linking the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea via Chumphon and Ranong provinces. The project includes new highways and double-track railways, with the aim of offering an alternative to the congested Strait of Malacca. The total investment is expected to be around THB 1 trillion (approximately USD 27.7 billion), with international bidding for the first phase—valued at THB 520 billion (approximately USD 14.4 billion)—scheduled to begin this year. Construction is expected to start in 2030.

Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has framed the project as a strategic way to deepen trade ties with China rather than compete with it, positioning Thailand as a logistics gateway for Chinese exports. After decades of subdued investment following the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, total investment in Thailand reached THB 2.6 trillion (approximately USD 72 billion) in 2023—close to pre-crisis levels. [Bangkok Post]