Car exports hit by parts crisis: Shortage cut March shipments by 10.2%. Car exports in March fell by 10.2% year-onyear to 93,840 units due to semiconductor and auto parts shortages, says the FTI. Thailand’s car exports in March dropped by 10.2% year-on-year to 93,840 units due to a shortage of semiconductors and auto parts, which could become even more scarce as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war, says the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). Bangkok Post
Thailand to ‘fully re-open’: Test & Go, RT-PCR tests end this month. The Test & Go travel scheme for foreign arrivals and RT-PCR testing upon arrival will end this month as vaccinated travellers will only need to take self-antigen tests during their stay from May 1 as part of a further easing of entry rules to boost the economy and tourism. Bangkok Post
Residential price index rises in Q1 in omen for higher costs: After falling for three consecutive quarters, the residential price index inched up in the first quarter of 2022, which was seen as a warning of an upward trend in housing prices based on the cost-push effect, according to the Real Estate Information Center (REIC). REIC acting director-general Vichai Viratkapan said the price index for both new low-rise houses and condos available for sale in Greater Bangkok in the first quarter of 2022 rose to 127.3 and 151.7 from 126.8 and 151.2 in the fourth quarter of 2021, respectively. Bangkok Post
Cabinet okays Covid-related tax cuts: The cabinet yesterday approved extending tax measures for individuals and companies that donate to the government; import medicines, medical supplies and medical equipment for public charity; and buy antigen test kits (ATK) for their employees. These are all recognised as supporting the government’s virus containment measures. Bangkok Post
Everything must go: Thai exports recorded the highest percentage increase in 30 years last month as demand boomed. Thai exports remain robust, with their performance hitting a 30-year record high in March, leading the country’s outbound shipments to grow by 14.9% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2022. Bangkok Post
The tripartite national wage committee is expected to finalise a proposal calling for an increase in min daily wages in Aug but it is unlikely to approve a proposed flat-rate wage of Bt492/day, said a top labour official.
Panel okays B1.92bn rice insurance plan: Scheme covers main crop of 2022 season. The National Rice Policy Committee yesterday approved providing 1.92 billion baht to support the rice insurance scheme for the main crop of the 2022 season. Bangkok Post
Diesel subsidy at Bt30/liter to end at end of April, diesel ceiling px shift to Bt35/liter with price ladder starts from Bt32/liter on May 1 then evaluate every 7 days, Oil Fuel Fund Office (OFFO).
The Bt300 tourism fee is scheduled to begin being collected between August and Sept this year using the Thailand Tourism Fee (TTF) system implemented by airlines.
Travel subsidy schemes to be extended by authorities: The remaining 4-billion-baht budget for the hotel subsidy scheme “We Travel Together” is enough for a new phase offering 1 million room nights, according to authorities, and the less popular campaign “Tour Teaw Thai” will be extended until the end of the year. Bangkok Post
