1. Bhumjaithai Party (193 seats) has secured a deal with Pheu Thai (74) and other small parties and now getting closer to 300, a comfortable majority in a 500 House seats, while continuing to negotiate with Kla Tham Party (58). Meanwhile, the Admin Court has accepted a petition to suspend certification of poll result, following widespread complaints of irregularity in Feb 8 election and this may add to short-term jitters and result in re-count of. The EC must certify the result within 60 after the election.
2. NESDC releases 4Q25 and FY25 GDP at 9:30am. Analysts expect FY25 GDP growth at 2.1% and 1.3% for 4Q25 growth.
3. MACRO: IMF comments – While monetary policy shifts should remain data dependent, there is a scope for further monetary easing as the real interest rate remains elevated despite the policy rate cuts. Fiscal and monetary policies may help to a certain degree, but structural reforms are needed to reverse tepid growth.
   – BoT MPC voted unanimously to cut by 25bps to 1.25% in Dec, a fifth cut in 14 months. The MPC is due to meet again 25Feb for the rate decision.
4. TFEX, in the next few months, plans to introduce smaller gold futures contracts to broaden retail participation. The smallest current contracts currently are for THB10 -weight of gold, with a contract value approaching THB100k while small-lot considerations could potentially size at THB1-weight of gold and sizing likely to be between THB5-10k. Given heightened volatility, TFEX maintains multi-tier circuit breakers. Trades are temporarily halted at 20%, before expanding to 30%, and eventually 100% under extreme conditions. Each cooling-off period typically lasts 2-3mins.
5. EGAT committed THB31bn to upgrade the power transmission system in the EEC from 600MW at present to 1,150MW. There’s currently sufficient power to ensure 24-hr operations, but enhancements to capacity are required for data centers in the pipeline. THB1.5bn will be allocated to upgrade transmission capacity at Phan Thong, which supplies electricity to AMATA City Chonburi and AMATA City Rayong.
6. Agoda’s latest accommodation search figures show TH and M’sia are the leading visa-free overseas destinations for Indian travellers, while Indonesia tops the list for visa-on-arrival markets. Indian travellers are placing greater emphasis on visa convenience when planning trips, with 84% of Indians saying they would travel more frequently if visa barriers were removed, and 91% considering new destinations.
7. BOI approved Western Digital’s THB2.3bn hard disk drive (HDD) production enhancement proj, a primary component for for data centers’ storage devices. The proj comes in tangent with TH’s approval of multiple data center projs. The proj aims to increase the storage capacity of a single HDD unit from 32TB currently to 100TB by 2029.
8. The Tourism Ministry reported foreign tourist arrivals of 5.07mn between 1 Jan–15 Feb, down 7.59% y/y. China remained the largest source market (770k), followed by Malaysia (461k). The agency maintains its 2026 foreign arrival target at 35mn (vs 33mn in 2025 and 40mn pre-Covid). While near-term momentum is softer, policy support and expanded air capacity could help stabilize flows into 2H26.
9. FDI: In Jan’26, Thailand approved THB33.78bn in foreign investment across 113 investors. The top five sources by value were Japan (THB15.3bn), Singapore (THB5.5bn), China (THB5.4bn), Hong Kong (THB587mn), and the US (THB420mn). The approvals suggest continued investor interest despite political noise.
10. Thailand’s exports of drones to Russia have surged since 2022, when less than $1m of drones were exported, to $125m in 11 months to eo-Nov 2025. Skyhub Technologies Ltd. is a nexus for a trade in advanced drones, with the company being TH’s second-biggest importer of unmanned aerial vehicles from China with the bulk being re-exported to Russia. Director General of Thai Custom Dept said all re-exports were legit, ready to act, but a law has to be in place first.

From my buddy Grok

Weekly Thai News Summary (February 14-20, 2026)

This summary compiles the latest developments in Thai political, national, and corporate news, drawing from web searches and expert insights on X. Key themes include the aftermath of the February 8 general election, border tensions with Cambodia, economic projections, and business expansions. Below are at least 20 notable news items, categorized for clarity. Items are based on recent reports and expert commentary, with a focus on factual highlights.

Political News

1. Bhumjaithai Party, led by Anutin Charnvirakul, secured a surprising victory in the February 8 election with a projected 193 seats, marking a return to conservative power and a setback for progressive forces. This outcome defied pre-election polls, which favored the People’s Party.

2. Voters approved a referendum to draft a new constitution with over 65% support, challenging the 2017 military-era charter, though conservatives now control the process.

3. Pheu Thai, linked to imprisoned former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, suffered its worst performance, signaling the fading influence of his political dynasty.

4. Anutin’s snap election call amid Cambodia border tensions boosted nationalism, contributing to Bhumjaithai’s win and coalition talks.

5. Allegations of electoral fraud, including mismatched vote counts and barcode traceability on ballots, prompted calls for recounts and legal challenges against the Election Commission (EC).

6. The Kla Tham Party, with 58 MPs-elect, held meetings to decide on joining the coalition, amid uncertainty over its role.

7. Human Rights Watch criticized the Anutin government for backsliding on rights, including repression of free expression.

8. Expert analysis suggests the monarchy’s public endorsement of Anutin created a “visibility trap,” linking the palace to fraud claims and eroding its impartiality.

9. The Supreme Court upheld a 3-year, 4-month sentence for a lese-majeste case involving comments on King Rama VIII’s death.

10. Former EC commissioner outlined five legal paths for challenges to the 2026 election, including potential Constitutional Court rulings on ballot secrecy.

National/Country News

11. Cambodian PM Hun Manet accused Thailand of occupying territory despite a Trump-brokered ceasefire, urging joint border work; Thailand denied the claims and emphasized de-escalation.

12. Thailand’s FM met Myanmar’s counterpart to discuss peace processes, border trade, and re-engagement, with a new Myanmar government expected by mid-April.

13. Economic growth for 2026 was revised up to 1.5-2.5%, driven by Q4 2025’s 2.5% GDP rise, though challenges like high debt and Trump tariffs persist.

14. Tourism saw 882,556 international visitors in early February, up 10.74% week-on-week, boosted by Chinese New Year.

15. Border wildfires from Cambodia prompted Thai Army safety measures, with no impact on missions.

16. UNHCR funding update for Thailand MCO as of January 31, 2026, highlights refugee support needs.

17. MDES debunked fake claims, including that the Mae Nak legend originated in Cambodia.

18. Over 50,000 foreign soldiers, including 71 with Thai nationality, fought for Israel in Gaza.

Corporate/Company News

19. Thai Union topped the food products industry in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2026, but APB100 notes a lack of protein diversification plans among Thai firms.

20. Garmin’s new Thailand factory, a $92.5M investment, is set to open in early 2027, with $400M capex for 2026.

21. AGC Vinythai commissioned a chlor-alkali plant expansion in Map Ta Phut, increasing capacity by 220,000 tons of caustic soda annually.

22. Thailand’s gift card market is projected to reach $4.93B by 2030, driven by digital transformation.

23. The Juangroongruangkit family is considering selling Thai Summit Group for $1.5-2B amid EV shifts.

24. SET rose on post-election optimism, with gains in finance and tech sectors; TRUE expected to see 200% profit jump.

25. Chulalongkorn University’s cell therapy research received Thailand’s first GMDP certification from the FDA.

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