The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has released its March industrial confidence index, which fell to 88.6 from 90.0 in February. The decline stems from escalating tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has driven up energy and shipping costs and increased production expenses for manufacturers.

These geopolitical developments are also affecting Thai exports to the Middle East, particularly in the automotive, air conditioning, and wood products sectors. Diesel prices have surged from 36.07 baht to 40.74 baht per liter as of March 31, raising costs for transport, agriculture, and industry, while fuel shortages at service stations are disrupting local economic activity.

Industry is also struggling with raw material shortages—including plastic pellets, chemicals, packaging materials, and aluminum—forcing manufacturers to absorb higher production costs by raising prices. The FTI projects the industrial confidence index will decline to 95.9 over the next three months, down from 97.4 in February, due to multiple pressures.

Businesses remain concerned about prolonged U.S.-Israel-Iran tensions, which are straining supply chains and logistics, impacting both manufacturing and tourism. Electricity rates under the automatic fuel adjustment mechanism are expected to rise to around 4 baht per unit from May to August 2026, further increasing industrial energy costs.

The FTI notes the government is preparing targeted relief measures and proposes reducing fuel excise taxes while utilizing the fuel fund to stabilize diesel prices, along with preventing hoarding and price manipulation. Additional recommendations include promoting energy efficiency, supporting consolidated shipping models, managing backhaul trips to reduce empty runs, restricting scrap metal, aluminum, and paper exports to preserve raw materials, and accelerating the development of alternative raw material sources and databases.

On April 25, 2025, Abbot Phrayom Kanjano of Suan Kaew Temple in Nonthaburi province addressed a circulating video claiming to show a senior monk abusing a novice. He questioned why the original posts did not specify which temple the incident occurred at or what wrongdoing the novice committed, noting that someone had placed Suan Kaew Temple's name tag on the video and claimed the monk had beaten the novice until bruised. Phrayom stated that such behavior does not reflect true monastic conduct. He emphasized that the shared content has caused the temple considerable trouble and noted this is not the first such incident he has encountered. Temple officials have filed a formal complaint and daily record to clarify that the incident did not occur at Suan Kaew Temple.

Phrayom appealed to the public to be discerning media consumers and verify sources before sharing or believing unsubstantiated claims. He warned that angry individuals have called the temple to criticize them, and that misinformation spreads rapidly once posted. He urged people not to blindly follow or believe such reports, describing the spread of fake news as a form of moral decay in society, as predicted by the late Venerable Buddhadasa Bhikkhu regarding technology's impact.

Phrayom added that the temple had only three novices ordained during the recent summer period, with two having already disrobed, leaving one remaining. He noted that when asking the young residents at the temple if any monks matched the appearance in the video, they confirmed no such monk was present at the temple. He pointed out that most monks at Suan Kaew are elderly, while the person depicted in the video appears younger.

Phrayom concluded by requesting that devotees exercise careful consideration and encouraged anyone with questions to contact the temple directly for clarification.

Cheng Lei (known to Thai fans as 'Phi Mongkol') recently flew to Thailand to participate in the 2026 iQIYI Starship Meet and Greet, where he was announced as the latest iQIYI International Global Ambassador. The Chinese actor, famous for series like 'Above the Battlefield' and 'Breaking Through Dimensions to Enter the Grand Palace,' did not disappoint Thai fans at the event held at SPHERE GALLERY2 in EMSPHERE, charming the packed crowd with his charisma, dazzling smile, and romantic Thai phrases including 'I love you' (Phom rak khun) and 'You're all beautiful.'

During a media interview on the 14th floor of EM Tower, Cheng Lei expressed his honor at becoming an iQIYI International Global Ambassador and shared his emotions about meeting Thai fans for the first time. 'I'm very honored to receive this opportunity from iQIYI. I was very nervous and sweating the entire time, but Thai fans were so happy and fun. Once my nerves settled, I felt genuine joy. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity, and I hope to meet you all again,' he said.

When asked about his preparation for the meet and greet, Cheng Lei revealed he had practiced Thai extensively but became too nervous to speak it fluently on stage. 'I prepared a lot of Thai language, but once I went on stage I got excited and scared of making mistakes, so I couldn't speak it out. I hope that on my next visit to Thailand, I'll be able to speak Thai fluently for everyone to hear,' he explained.

The actor was deeply moved by Thai fans' warm reception, particularly during the fan project portion. 'Thai fans are really fun and enthusiastic. When I saw the fan project and turned back to face everyone, that moment was truly touching and meaningful,' he shared.

Regarding future visits to Thailand, Cheng Lei expressed interest in spending 2-3 days in Bangkok and exploring what the country has to offer. 'Thailand has many cities with their own charm. I know Thailand has lots of delicious food, but I'd like to feel like a random tourist trying anything I come across. That would be more of a surprise,' he said.

When asked about potential collaborations with Thai actors, Cheng Lei stated his genuine desire to learn Thai. 'I really want to learn Thai so I can understand Thai culture and exchange cultures with each other,' he explained.

Before closing the interview, Cheng Lei repeated the Thai phrase 'I love you' (Phom rak khun khrap) and left a heartfelt message for his Thai fans: 'First of all, I feel very honored to meet all of you today. Most importantly, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my work with Thai fans. I promise to keep improving myself and creating quality work that you can follow and enjoy. Let's support each other.'

Iran's Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali has disclosed that Tehran is granting exemptions from Strait of Hormuz transit fees to select nations, including Russia, according to Russian news agencies RIA Novosti and Al-Mayadeen. The ambassador stated that Iran is currently providing exceptions for friendly countries like Russia, though future policy remains uncertain. Iran announced its plan to impose transit fees following escalating military attacks between the U.S., Israel, and Iran since late February, justifying the charges as necessary costs for maintaining security in the strategic waterway. The country has also closed the strait and indicated it will reopen only when the U.S. ends its naval blockade entirely. Iran's Vice Speaker of Parliament Hamid Reza Haji Babaei confirmed on April 23 that the country has already received the first transit fee payment, transferred to the national central bank. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, is the world's only major maritime outlet for the region. Prior to recent conflicts, approximately 20 million barrels of oil transited daily through the strait, representing roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption.

Deputy Prime Minister Supachee Panitchpakdi held talks with US Ambassador to Thailand Sean Oanis on Friday, April 24, 2026, describing the discussions as constructive and reflective of shared confidence in deepening economic and trade relations between Thailand and the United States—a partnership spanning over 190 years.

The Thai government prioritizes negotiations on the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) and stands ready to work closely with the United States, with commitment to advance discussions and reach conclusions quickly to boost business and market confidence in both countries. Regarding the US Section 301 investigation, Supachee emphasized that Thailand has comprehensively clarified its position on excess capacity and forced labor import bans, noting that most Thai exports support US manufacturing supply chains. Thailand maintains labor standards aligned with international norms and is prepared to collaborate closely with the US for mutually beneficial outcomes.

Thailand has proposed that the US consider tariff exemptions for goods the US cannot produce domestically, particularly key agricultural exports, to mitigate consumer impact in America and promote more balanced trade.

The Deputy PM also revealed plans to visit the United States in early May to attend the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2026, leading a delegation of Thai business leaders focused on expanding investment in key sectors. Thailand will also engage with USABC and USCC, major US investors in Thailand, to facilitate mutual investment and witness business cooperation agreements (MOUs), demonstrating Thai private sector confidence in the US economy and the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Thailand aims to balance trade through imports of essential goods and raw materials from the US, including agricultural products and energy resources, reflecting its commitment to being a responsible and reliable economic partner. The Deputy PM concluded that Thailand views the US as a strategically important trade partner, and these discussions reflect shared determination to elevate economic relations to new heights through close collaboration for long-term sustainable mutual benefit.

In 2025, the US ranked as Thailand's second-largest trading partner with total trade value exceeding $93.65 billion, with Thai exports to the US reaching $72.51 billion, covering major products such as computers, rubber products, gems, automobiles, and air conditioning units. Thailand imported $21.14 billion worth of US goods including crude oil, machinery, aircraft and components, chemicals, and electrical machinery.