1. Exports tipped to grow 1-2%: The Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) expects the value of exports to expand by 1-2% this year. Bangkok Post
2. Rent suspended for small vendors: Collection halted for three-month period. The Commerce Ministry has begun to stop collecting rent from food and market stalls including commercial markets operated by government-run agencies for a period of three months throughout the country prior to the implementation of the digital wallet scheme. Bangkok Post
3. Finance Ministry said >14m ppl signed up for govt’s digital wallet handout scheme on 1st day of registration, causing the system to crash within the first few hours of opening.
4. The power tariff, which will be capped at Bt4.18/unit to m/t electricity price til end of year, is likely to decrease early next year, as global demand for LNG is thought to be decreasing, which wud result in lower gas price.
5. State Audit Office (SAO) spokesman said financial losses due to the inefficient management of all construction contracts during the 2023 fiscal year were more than Bt30b.
6. BoT eases loan rules to help out borrowers: The Bank of Thailand (BoT) is relaxing individual loan regulations to help retail borrowers amid an uneven income recovery. Bangkok Post
7. Upsetting the apple cart: The arrival of Chinese e-commerce giant Temu in Thailand poses several significant challenges. The entry of Temu – China’s e-commerce behemoth – into the Thai market last month is expected to intensify cross-border competition that will affect both online and offline businesses in Thailand, according to e-commerce pioneers. Bangkok Post
8. HP plans to relocate half of its PC production from China to Thailand & Mexico to diversify supply chain beyond China, some of commercial notebook production to Mexico & a portion of consumer laptop production to TH, Nikei Asia.
9. The influx of Chinese industrial products into Southeast Asia is dealing a blow to TH’s trade, reducing its market share in the region and leading to a trade deficit with China worth nearly US$20b, says the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking
10. Meteorological Dept announced that the La Nina weather phenomenon began here last month. Although there is heavy rainfall in some areas, officials said the water volume in major dams may not be enough to cope with the upcoming drought.

Bonus 7

1. Mortgage applications for homes priced below Bt3m will likely continue to face higher rejection rates over next two years because of a slowdown in the residential segment.
2. MoF’s preparing market sounding for a new Vayupak Fund and expects to offer investment units for sale by end of this year, the initial size of the new fund will be Bt100-150b, when combined with exiting Type B Vayupak Fund in which MoF and Government agencies hold share amounting to Bt350b, the total size will be increased to Bt500b.
3. Tesla Halts plans for EV plants in SEA nations and anywhere else except for China, US, & Germany, focusing on development of charging facilities, Straits Times.
4. SSO adds plasma treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis in healthcare benefits, SSO members can receive 2 treatments p.a. free of charge.
5. Call for new tariffs on Chinese goods: Panel says Thai trade is under threat. The influx of Chinese industrial products into Southeast Asia is dealing a blow to Thailand’s trade, reducing its market share in the region and leading to a trade deficit with China worth nearly US$20 billion, says the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB). Bangkok Post
6. Mortgage rejection rates likely to persist: Homes B3m and lower most affected. Mortgage applications for homes priced below 3 million baht will likely continue to face higher rejection rates over the next two years because of a slowdown in the residential segment. Bangkok Post
7. The Finance Ministry expects new units of the Vayupak Fund will be unveiled by year-end.: Planning starts for market sounding. With the offering of new Vayupak Fund units and improvements to Thai ESG fund investment conditions, the Finance Ministry wants to drive more capital into the local stock market. The Finance Ministry is preparing to conduct a market sounding for a new Vayupak Fund and expects to offer investment units for sale by the end of this year. Bangkok Post