1. China’s top envoy Wang Yi visited TH and C’dia to boost links with both nations and expressed concerns about online scams emanating from SEA. He said during a visit to C’dia earlier that cross-border online gambling and cyber fraud “must be resolutely cracked down on and completely eradicated by both sides”.
2. Shopping co-payment stimulus, Thai Help Thai Plus, will open for sign up in May, offering Bt4k per participant with gov’t paying 60:40, Bt1k will be handout each month from Jun till Sept total 4 months, program start from Jun.
3. SET to revise listing rules for main board and MAI. Market consultation to close on 8 May. Proposed revisions include: 
   • Reducing the min. mkt cap and operating rev. track record period
   • Criteria of core operating rev. in the most recent yr instead of fixed min. operating rev. requirement
   • Eliminating the requirement for foreign companies to demonstrate a contribution to the Thai econ to facilitate listing of large multinational companies
   • Revising the silent period requirements to align with int’l standards
   • Adjustment to the criteria for strategic shareholders by prohibiting them from selling post-IPO, with a min. lockup proportion to maintain their aggregate holding at a sufficient level to demonstrate long-term commitment
4. Utilities: Power plants are entering a recovery phase as global gas prices trend lower, leading to reduced costs in 2H26. The new electricity tariff structure, supported by the government’s gradual approach of not aggressively adjusting the Ft rate to reflect actual costs (at THB3.95/unit), is also a supporting factor. Expectations are building for the new PDP to drive a fresh growth cycle in renewables.
5. THB is likely to come under renewed pressure, given the scale of energy imports and Thailand’s position as having the largest oil and gas deficit in Asia. Seasonally, Thailand’s narrow current account in 2Q26 will also weigh on the currency. The THB has already weakened by over 4% since the war began in late February. Bloomberg consensus for end-2Q26 stands at THB32.4/USD.
6. Thailand Mar auto sales rose 7.3% y/y, driven by EVs and hybrids, rebounding from -2.2% in Feb. Total domestic vehicle sales reached 59,865 units in Mar (vs 55,798 a year earlier), according to the FTI Auto Industry Group. EV sales jumped 48% y/y to 12,074 units, while HEV sales increased 24% to 14,895 units.
7. POWER: Thailand plans to cut electricity tariffs by around 20% for households with lower usage, according to Energy Minister Akanat. Homes consuming up to 200 units/month will pay below THB3/unit (vs. the current average of THB3.95). Currently, households pay about THB3.25/unit for the first 150 units, with rates rising to as much as THB4.42 as consumption increases.Meanwhile, tariffs will rise for higher-usage households to offset subsidies for smaller users. Consumption of 200–400 units/month will be charged at THB3.95/unit, while usage above 400 units will be priced at no less than THB5/unit. A committee chaired by PM Anutin will meet today to review the proposal. If approved, the new tariff structure is expected to take effect in June.
8. Politics: Thaksin-linked stocks may see movement as the Justice Ministry meets to approve parole for eligible prisoners, including former PM Thaksin Shinawatra (positive: SC, PR9).
9. BoT: The MPC voted unanimously yesterday to hold rates at 1%, the lowest level since late 2022. The decision reflects the central bank’s focus on supporting economic growth amid heightened volatility. Even prior to the war, Thailand had already been a regional laggard, weighed down by weak demand, high household debt, and past political instability. The BoT expects GDP growth to slow to +1.5% this year, while additional stimulus could contribute up to +0.7% to GDP. Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry has revised down its 2026 GDP growth forecast to +1.6% from a previous estimate of +2.0% in January.
10. Economy: The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) reported 1Q26 investment applications exceeding THB1.01trn (US$31.8bn) across more than 600 projects. Growth was led by the Digital and Electronics sectors riding the AI wave, followed by Clean Energy, Agriculture & Food Processing, Logistics, and Automotive. Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Japan recorded the highest investment values, reinforcing Thailand’s position as a destination for future industries.

Grok

**Weekly Thai News Briefing**  

**Period: ~April 22–May 1, 2026** (last 7–10 days)  

**Compiled from reputable sources (Bangkok Post, Reuters, HRW, BOT, The Nation, SET, etc.) + parallel English/Thai X searches for sentiment**

This briefing covers **22+ high-impact items** across sections, prioritizing recency, scale, and implications for politics, economy, and business. Stories reflect ongoing volatility from the Middle East conflict, domestic political tensions, and policy responses under the Bhumjaithai-led coalition government of PM Anutin Charnvirakul.

### Political News

– **Major opposition crackdown**: Thailand’s Supreme Court (Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Position) accepted a National Anti-Corruption Commission case on April 24 against **44 opposition politicians** (former Move Forward Party members + 10 from the People’s Party, including leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut). They face potential lifetime political bans for sponsoring a bill to reform the lèse-majesté law (Section 112). This builds on the 2024 Constitutional Court dissolution of Move Forward and a related 10-year ban on its executives. HRW called it a “chilling message” that the law is “as sacrosanct as the monarchy,” violating ICCPR rights to expression and participation.

– People’s Party (opposition successor to Move Forward) launched a “shadow cabinet” on April 29 to scrutinize the Anutin government, prioritizing four urgent issues: global energy crisis and rising living costs.

– PM Anutin Charnvirakul’s new coalition government (post-election, with Bhumjaithai leading after Pheu Thai’s poor performance) issued its policy statement emphasizing a “multi-dimensional, multi-directional” foreign policy “Beyond Thailand,” proactive ASEAN role (including 2028 Chairmanship), and UN/multilateral engagement.

– Pheu Thai Party (coalition partner despite election setbacks) remained active: Labor Minister Julapan Amornvivat announced **5 urgent labor strategies** on May 1 (Labor Day), focusing on social security reform (new CARE pension formula), future skills/AI adoption (“learn with budget, graduate with job”), proactive rights protection/reskilling, skilled labor market expansion, and platform/gig worker protections.

– Thailand strengthened China ties in April: Chinese FM Wang Yi visit, ambassador courtesy call on new Defense Minister, strong BYD sales at Bangkok Motor Show (8 of top 10 booked brands Chinese), and PM Anutin personally endorsing BYD. Land Bridge megaproject framed as strategic independence.

– Background context: Ongoing fallout from 2024–2025 political transitions, including earlier Paetongtarn Shinawatra removal and conservative Bhumjaithai gains.

### Country & Economic News

– **Bank of Thailand (BOT) policy decision (April 29)**: Unanimously held key rate at **1.00%** (lowest in >3 years). Revised 2026 GDP growth down to **1.5%** (from 1.9%; recovery to 2.0% in 2027) and inflation up to **2.9%** (from 0.3%), citing Middle East war’s direct impact via higher oil prices, business costs, and eroded household spending. No stagflation signs yet; Q1 showed positive expansion (on-quarter growth positive, similar to Q4 2025’s 2.5% yoy) from domestic demand and exports. Worst-case: growth <1%, inflation >5%.

– Finance Ministry lowered 2026 growth forecast to **1.6%** and inflation to **3.0%**; preparing **emergency borrowing decree up to 400–500 billion baht** (Cabinet review May 5) for stimulus, crisis response, and “Thai Helps Thai Plus” scheme (potentially aiding >30 million people from June).

– Baht weakened in March (and continued pressure) on oil/dollar strength; corporate financing rose (bank lending, bonds in energy/tech).

– Tourism slowdown: Domestic long-holiday travel down due to high energy/living costs (TAT estimates 10.1 billion baht revenue from 2.83 million trips); international arrivals at risk from Middle East disruptions (revised forecast: 33.5 million foreigners).

– Factories shutting, layoffs rising, small businesses struggling from energy shock and weak demand (visible ground-level impacts).

– Vietnam edged past Thailand in PPP GDP rankings (Thailand held #2 in Southeast Asia for decades).

– Fuel prices rose May 1: PTT and Bangchak increased diesel (B7/B20) by 60 satang/liter, petrol/gasohol by 85 satang.

### Corporate / Company News

– **i-Tail Corp (ITC, pet food, SET-listed)**: Record Q1 2026—sales USD 163 million (+28.6% yoy; THB 5.17 billion +21.8%), operating profit +36%, net profit +24.9%, driven by US/Europe demand.

– **Italian-Thai Development (ITD)** completed cross-border divestment: sold 46.64% stake in Indian subsidiary ITD Cementation India (~THB 11.8 billion / USD 351 million) to Renew Exim DMCC as part of capital management.

– **SPCG (renewable energy)**: Major shareholder Wandee Khunchornyakong acquired ~95 million additional shares (8.9%, ~THB 1.26 billion) to raise stake to ~46%, signaling long-term commitment and dividend confidence.

– **Central Pattana (CPN)** launched JegoTrip perks/partnership with China Mobile for enhanced customer benefits.

– SET performance (late April–early May): Mixed but recent recovery—SET Index rose for fourth straight session to **1,493.69** (+0.1%); SET50 hovered ~966–971 amid volatility, earlier dips from Middle East risk-off, then modest gains (tech TDRs like SMIC/CoreWeave/Intel led). Markets closed May 1 for Labor Day.

– Broader SET/mai activity: Ongoing company announcements (AGMs, subsidiaries) from firms like Thai Wah (TWPC) and AP (Thailand); IPO pipeline described as “difficult.”

### Local Market & Social Media Sentiment

**English-language X chatter** (general keywords like “Thai politics,” “SET Index,” “Thai economy” since April 22): Focused on high-level developments—opposition prosecutions/lèse-majesté (human rights angle), BOT rate hold + growth downgrade, Thaksin early parole mentions, Thailand-China ties, and broader economic slowdown risks. More international/analytical tone; less retail-investor volume.

**Thai-language X chatter** (lang:th keywords like “การเมืองไทย,” “นายกฯ,” “แพทองธาร,” “พรรคเพื่อไทย,” “ก้าวไกล,” “ดัชนี SET,” “ตลาดหุ้นไทย,” “เศรษฐกิจไทย” since April 22): Far more grassroots and immediate—Pheu Thai’s Labor Day policy rollout dominated (labor as “gear” of economy, 5 strategies widely shared), criticism of parties/government, energy price hikes, factory/layoff worries from Middle East crisis, and local political drama (e.g., student incidents tied to broader sentiment). Retail-investor/stock mentions present but secondary to cost-of-living and party announcements. **Key difference**: Thai discourse is more party-specific, labor/economic survival-focused, and emotionally charged vs. English’s broader geopolitical/human-rights lens. Expert/media accounts (@BangkokPostNews, @Thenationth, @ThaiPBS) amplified fuel prices, borrowing plans, and Middle East economic ripple effects.

**Overall implications**: Political tensions remain high with opposition facing existential threats, potentially limiting reform momentum. Economy faces clear downside risks from external shocks, prompting aggressive fiscal stimulus, but household debt and weak consumption limit upside. Corporate resilience visible in select sectors (pet food exports, renewables consolidation), while SET volatility reflects caution. Monitor May 5 Cabinet borrowing decision and ongoing Middle East developments for next week’s shifts.

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