The Uthai Thani ice factory, unable to cope with rising fuel prices, has requested a 5-baht increase per sack amid scorching weather. Meanwhile, local residents are all suffering. Previously, they bought ice units for 5 or 10 baht, but now they find they pay the same amount but receive less ice.
On 11 April 2026, amid a continuous rise in living costs—including fuel and consumer goods prices—there has been a direct impact on "ice," an essential item during extreme heat. A major ice factory in Uthai Thani province has begun raising prices after struggling with soaring transportation fuel costs. Phonphiboon Ice Factory in Mueang district, a well-known and long-established business with a delivery network covering all districts and nearby areas, has had to adjust wholesale ice prices in line with the rising fuel costs.
Field checks at Nava Mart, a convenience store in Nong Klang Dong subdistrict, Thap Than district, which regularly receives ice deliveries from Phonphiboon Ice Factory, found that the price of ice tubes (20 kg sacks) has risen from 35 baht to 40 baht. During this hot season, people must buy ice to cope with the intense heat.
The retail store owner revealed that the price increase further impacts already thin profit margins, as ice is a perishable product prone to melting and weight loss. On days when sales are slow, profits are minimal. However, due to higher costs, they had no choice but to raise retail prices accordingly.
Local residents are suffering widespread hardship, especially during the hot season when ice demand rises. Villagers who used to buy ice units for 5 or 10 baht to chill water and drinks now find that the same amount of money buys less ice. Moreover, the extreme heat forces them to buy ice multiple times a day, inevitably increasing household expenses.