The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC)—Thailand’s flagship economic zone spanning Rayong, Chon Buri, and Chachoengsao—recorded a 24.9 percent year-on-year increase in land prices in the first quarter of 2025, driven primarily by strong foreign investment in manufacturing and residential development. According to the Real Estate Information Center, the land price index for undeveloped plots reached 332.2 points, continuing five quarters of consecutive growth.

Rayong saw the sharpest rise, with land prices jumping 43.5 percent year-on-year, attributed to factory relocations amid global geopolitical tensions and trade realignments. Japanese investors led foreign inflows, followed by Chinese and Singaporean firms. Chon Buri followed with a 33.6 percent increase, fueled by industrial activity and rising residential demand in Pattaya, where foreign buyers benefit from Board of Investment privileges.

In contrast, land prices in Chachoengsao declined 13.5 percent due to weaker residential demand. District-level spikes included Bang Lamung (+126.5 percent) and Si Racha (+88.6 percent), both in Chon Buri, and Ban Khai in Rayong (+47.9 percent), reflecting strong demand for housing near industrial zones. [Bangkok Post]

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Omoda & Jaecoo (Thailand), a subsidiary of Chery Automobile, is planning further investments to stimulate sales in Thailand’s sluggish automotive market. The company, which has already announced a 5-billion-baht investment to build a battery electric vehicle (BEV) plant in Rayong, aims to begin operations in the fourth quarter of this year. Omoda & Jaecoo's president, Qi Jie, confirmed that the company plans to increase its marketing budget to boost car sales, especially in the highly competitive EV segment dominated by Chinese manufacturers.

In response to stiff competition, Omoda & Jaecoo is focusing on robust marketing campaigns, which include pricing strategies and brand building to attract customers. The company is also grappling with the issue of fewer auto loans, as banks and car financing companies remain cautious amid Thailand's high household debt levels. This has made it more difficult for consumers to purchase cars, particularly EVs.

Qi Jie also noted that the company is committed to increasing local content in its EVs, surpassing the 40% required by the Thai Board of Investment (BoI) for tax and investment incentives. The company aims to increase local content to over 50% by the end of 2025, up from less than 20% currently, as it moves beyond the initial phase of Thailand’s EV industry development.

By the first half of 2025, Omoda & Jaecoo had 42 showrooms across Thailand, and it plans to expand to 70 by the end of the year. From October 2024 to June 2025, the company sold 1,000 cars in Thailand. [Bangkok Post]

The Thai government has formed a new committee to tackle illegal labor practices by foreign nationals, particularly targeting “Grey Chinese” groups suspected of working unlawfully in Thailand.

This committee was established following widespread findings of foreign workers occupying jobs legally reserved for Thai citizens, which has raised serious concerns about job security for locals.

Thailand bans foreigners from holding 27 specific occupations such as traditional crafts (wood carving, lacquerware, gem cutting), Thai massage, hairdressing, tour guiding, and legal services. This initiative is part of a broader government policy called “Urgent Regulation of Foreign Workers in Thailand,” aimed at protecting Thai workers and ensuring the legal employment of foreigners within clearly defined job categories.

The committee will also focus on investigating illegal employment conditions, including forced labor and child labor exploitation among foreign workers. [The Nation]

Thailand will reclassify the intravenous anesthetic etomidate as a Psychotropic Substance Category 2 starting July 27, following a sharp rise in its illegal use in e-cigarette liquids known as “zombie pods.” The move comes in response to growing health concerns as the drug, originally restricted to medical use, is increasingly being used to induce psychotropic effects among vape users—mirroring patterns already observed in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

The reclassification significantly tightens legal penalties: illegal possession can result in up to seven years in prison and/or fines of up to THB 700,000 (USD 20,300), while unauthorized sale could lead to up to 15 years in prison and/or fines of THB 1.5 million (USD 43,500).

Thai authorities are urging medical facilities to stockpile supplies before the new regulations take effect, as future purchases of etomidate will require direct FDA approval. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand’s Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has recently intensified efforts to combat counterfeit goods. During a series of enforcement operations, authorities confiscated over 1.3 million counterfeit items, including counterfeit luxury brand accessories, apparel, watches, and electronic gadgets.

These seizures were part of coordinated raids conducted across multiple provinces, targeting markets and warehouses known for peddling fake merchandise. DIP officials collaborated with local law enforcement to locate the production facilities, storage hubs, and distribution channels involved in the fraudulent trade, aiming to dismantle the network behind it.

In addition to the seizures, numerous individuals suspected of distributing counterfeit products have been arrested. The government is pursuing legal action against them under Thailand’s intellectual property legislation, which carries penalties including fines and imprisonment.

The DIP emphasized that this crackdown aligns with Thailand’s commitment to protecting intellectual property rights and fostering a safer, more trustworthy marketplace for consumers and legitimate businesses alike. [Bangkok Post]

Thai authorities have conducted raids on three businesses selling substandard electrical goods through online platforms, seizing products valued at approximately THB 7.2 million (USD 204,000). The raids, led by Thitiphat Chotidechachainan, head of a Ministry of Industry working group, targeted companies selling items without certification from the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI).

The seized goods included power banks, power sockets, air fryers, extension cords, and fans, most of which were imported from China. Authorities raided a warehouse in Nakhon Pathom operated by TT-One Technology Co Ltd, which had been selling through 21 online stores. Another raid took place at a retail site in Bangkok, belonging to NTP Electronic 2019 Co Ltd, where uncertified power chargers and extension cords were found.

The authorities also searched the premises of MGT Intercorporation Co Ltd, which had been importing the uncertified products. Legal action is being pursued against the companies involved, with violations potentially leading to fines or jail sentences. [Bangkok Post]

Thai police and FDA officials have confiscated over THB 20 million worth of uncertified cleaning and cosmetic products from a warehouse in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang district. The raid followed a probe into a death allegedly linked to toxic pipe cleaner fumes.

Authorities in Bangkok have confiscated over 400,000 uncertified cleaning and cosmetic products worth more than THB 20 million (USD 616,000). The goods were seized during a raid on a warehouse in Lat Krabang, following an investigation into a fatality allegedly linked to toxic cleaning chemicals.

The products, including Seaways-branded detergents and Dr Leo cosmetics, were imported from China without Thai FDA certification. The warehouse manager said a Chinese investor had imported the items from China and sold them online. The business, active for three years, fulfilled thousands of daily orders using foreign labor.

The operation was authorized by a search warrant issued by the Minburi Criminal Court. Officials warn that uncertified products may pose serious health risks to consumers. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand’s Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court has ruled in favor of Nestlé in its legal dispute with the Mahagitsiri family, restoring original voting rules at their long-standing joint venture, Quality Coffee Products Co. Ltd. (QCP), which produces Nescafé in Thailand. The court revoked a temporary injunction previously sought by the Mahagitsiri family that aimed to bypass the need for Nestlé’s co-approval on QCP board resolutions.

The Mahagitsiri family is a prominent Thai business family known for its extensive investments and ownership in various sectors, including food and beverages. The family has been a key partner in the production of Nescafé in Thailand, through its joint venture with Nestlé.

Under the reinstated rules, the Mahagitsiri family—shareholders and board members of QCP—must secure joint consent from Nestlé’s representatives for any board decisions. The ruling preserves the structure of the decades-long joint venture and reflects ongoing tensions over QCP’s business direction.

In parallel, the Bangkok South Civil Court is still considering Nestlé’s request for the dissolution of QCP. In the meantime, the court has required Mahagitsiri-affiliated shareholders to submit detailed monthly financial reports to protect the interests of both parties.

Production at QCP’s Chachoengsao factory has been suspended since January 1, 2025. Nestlé has continued supplying the Thai market using other local production lines and imports from Vietnam and Malaysia. [Bangkok Post] [The Nation]

In a notable shift under Thai trademark law, the Intellectual Property and International Trade Court ruled that the figurative mark WEPLAY had acquired distinctiveness through use—a rare outcome given the judiciary’s traditional emphasis on inherent distinctiveness. The decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal for Specialized Cases, which found the mark inherently distinctive based on a combined assessment of its verbal and graphical components.

The case centered on a 2017 application for goods in Class 28 (including toy building blocks). The Trademark Registrar and the Board of Trademarks had initially rejected the application, considering “weplay” descriptive and thus non-distinctive. However, the IP & IT Court accepted evidence of over a decade of continuous use, advertising, and sales in Thailand—ranging from invoices to catalogue ads—as proof of acquired distinctiveness under Section 7, Paragraph 3 of the Trademark Act.

On appeal, the higher court concluded that the term “weplay” was suggestive rather than merely descriptive and that its pairing with a stylized graphic featuring an unusual color scheme contributed to its inherent distinctiveness. The decision marks a rare acknowledgment of acquired distinctiveness through use in Thailand and signals greater openness to holistic assessments of marks by Thai courts. [Tilleke & Gibbins]

The Thai government is tightening its regulation of digital platforms under the new Digital Platform Service (DPS) law to better protect consumers from online fraud and to hold platform providers accountable, in response to a sharp rise in online scams and cybercrime cases.

In 2024, the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) received over 3,381 complaints related to online fraud. These included fake investment schemes, impersonation of public figures, counterfeit goods, and fraudulent financial platforms. The total financial loss from these scams exceeded THB 19 billion (USD 586 million). The Royal Thai Police’s Technology Crime Suppression Division reported over 400,000 cybercrime cases in the same year, resulting in damages of more than THB 60 billion (USD 1.85 billion). Most victims were working women.

Under the DPS law, platforms earning over THB 1.8 million (USD 55,556) per year in Thailand or having more than 5,000 monthly users -- such as Lazada, Shopee, and Facebook Marketplace -- must now comply with stricter rules. Key requirements include mandatory registration with ETDA, implementation of a robust complaint management system, and proactive monitoring of sellers, products, and ads. Non-compliance with these requirements could lead to service suspension or fines under the law. [The Nation]

Thai police have formally submitted the results of their investigation into the deadly collapse of the under-construction State Audit Office (SAO) tower in Bangkok, which occurred during the March 28 earthquake and resulted in more than 90 deaths. On July 22, investigators from Bang Sue police station handed over evidence to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), seeking the indictment of 23 suspects, including seven companies.

The accused face charges of professional negligence causing death, forgery, and use of forged documents. All are currently in custody. Among those named is Premchai Karnasuta, former president of Italian-Thai Development PCL (ITD), one of Thailand’s largest construction firms and the majority stakeholder in the joint venture that designed and built the SAO building. ITD partnered with China Railway No. 10 (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Railway Group, for the project. The joint venture is under scrutiny for alleged use of substandard materials and design flaws.

The investigation also revealed irregularities in the bidding and procurement process. A second phase of the probe—focused on the conduct of public officials—is ongoing and will be forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which has also received related documents from the police. Additionally, a separate complaint has been filed by two television hosts against the current and former auditor-generals, alleging negligence and dereliction of duty.

Prosecutors have until the end of the suspects’ 84-day maximum detention period to decide on formal charges. [Bangkok Post 1] [Bangkok Post 2]

The Ministry of Finance is exploring the imposition of higher excise taxes on imported electric vehicles (EVs) with low local content, particularly electric pickup trucks. The move is part of efforts to encourage investment in the domestic electric vehicle industry. Imported EVs, especially those from China, which currently benefit from a zero import tariff under the free trade agreement (FTA) between Thailand and China, may face higher excise taxes if their local content is minimal.

This potential tax hike comes amid concerns about competitive imbalances in the market, as foreign automakers from countries without FTAs with Thailand face import tariffs ranging from 40% to 80%. The Excise Department is collaborating with the Board of Investment (BoI) to develop measures that support the local EV industry, particularly the electric pickup truck sector.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, widely seen as the informal power center behind the ruling coalition, has proposed a higher excise tax on imported EVs with limited local content, highlighting the negative impact of FTAs with countries enjoying zero import tariffs on the domestic automotive ecosystem. He also suggested that foreign EV makers could use locally produced car seats as an example of local content to qualify for lower taxes. Thaksin emphasized the environmental benefits of promoting EVs and reducing Thailand’s reliance on imported fuels, which include 60 million liters of diesel and 25 million liters of gasoline per day.

In addition, Thaksin supported Thailand’s potential to become a hub for green electricity, proposing that the country could produce 40,000 MW of solar energy, requiring around 1.4 million rai (approximately 2,240 square kilometers) of land, which he believes Thailand has ample space to accommodate. [Bangkok Post]

Thai brokerage firms are urging the Ministry of Finance to exempt dividend taxes for long-term stock investments, aiming to revive domestic investor confidence amid a continued downturn in the Thai capital market. The proposal follows the underperformance of the government’s ESG X Fund—designed to promote long-term investment—which raised only THB 30 billion (USD 870 million), far below the target of THB 100 billion (USD 2.9 billion).

Analysts argue that exempting dividend tax for investments held over a year and allowing tax-free securities switching—modeled after Japan’s Nippon Individual Savings Account—could support long-term portfolio growth and stimulate interest in high-dividend Thai stocks. The SET High Dividend Index currently yields 6.1 percent, among the highest globally.

Investor confidence has been shaken by both domestic uncertainty and global risks, including the looming U.S. reciprocal tariff regime. With August 1 expected to mark the start of country-specific tariffs, Thai exports and industries face further pressure. The Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations and Thai Bond Market Association have called on the government to implement targeted stimulus, including budget allocations for affected sectors and long-term incentives to retain capital within Thailand. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand is intensifying efforts to boost its ornamental fish industry as a strategic agricultural export sector. The Department of Fisheries aims to strengthen Thailand’s global market share—currently at 11 percent of a global market valued at THB 10 billion (USD 274 million) in 2024—and raise incomes for breeders and small-scale farmers.

Betta fish (Siamese fighting fish), recently designated as the national aquatic animal, lead exports, accounting for THB 400 million (USD 11 million) or 40 percent of total exports. Other notable species include goldfish, guppies, rainbow fish, ornamental shrimp, and cichlids, with major markets in the United States, European Union, and China.

The government’s 2023–2027 action plan includes 13 initiatives focused on breeding, farming, marketing, and innovation. Recent developments include a partnership with Thailand Post to expand live aquatic animal logistics, allowing direct exports by farmers. New species approved for postal shipment include sea grapes, sea lettuce algae, and sea mushrooms. A supplementary memorandum of understanding is being drafted to cover international shipments via postal services. [Bangkok Post]

Thai industrial gas company BIG is partnering with national energy firm PTT to construct a new air separation unit, MAP2, at the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in Rayong. The facility builds on the success of the earlier MAP1 project, which uses cold energy from liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification to produce low-carbon gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and argon.

According to BIG, MAP1 enabled an annual average reduction of 93,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide between 2022 and 2024. The new MAP2 plant will further enhance this carbon-reducing technology, aiming for greater energy efficiency and lower emissions.

The MAP2 initiative reflects both companies’ commitment to supporting Thailand’s transition to a low-carbon economy, with planned support for key industrial sectors including petrochemicals, metals, automotive, electronics, and food processing. Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand’s cabinet has approved Vitai Ratanakorn, CEO of Government Savings Bank, as the next Bank of Thailand (BoT) governor. Pending royal endorsement, he will begin a five-year term on October 1, succeeding Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput.

Vitai inherits a challenging economic landscape, marked by sluggish growth, high household debt, and external pressures like U.S. tariffs. He has called for deeper rate cuts and stronger fiscal-monetary coordination – a shift from his predecessor’s more cautious stance.

Seen as close to the Finance Ministry, Vitai’s nomination has drawn criticism from former central bankers and academics concerned about BoT independence. Vitai, however, insists he can act autonomously, prioritizing national interests.

He will chair the Monetary Policy Committee starting October 8. Economists expect the BoT to continue easing, with potential rate cuts of up to 50 basis points later this year.

With a background in state finance, pensions, and corporate roles, Vitai positions himself as a reformer ready to revive Thailand’s faltering economy. [Bangkok Post]

Thailand’s state-owned enterprises are being urged to align with standards set by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as part of the country’s ongoing preparations to join the international bloc. Key focus areas include ensuring competitive neutrality and adopting market-based pricing in state procurement, especially in cases where subsidiaries provide services to their parent companies.

The State Enterprise Policy Office is preparing necessary agreements, though challenges remain due to Thailand’s diverse institutional forms for state entities—including statutory authorities, limited companies, and public organizations. The OECD reportedly prefers a single model, namely the limited company format, which may disrupt existing structures and employee entitlements.

An initial memorandum of intent is expected to be submitted to the OECD by December 2025. The accession process typically spans seven to eight years. Currently, Japan and South Korea are the only OECD members from Asia, though Indonesia is also seeking membership. Thailand would be the first from the ASEAN bloc if its application succeeds. [Bangkok Post]