A laab shop owner in Buriram province revealed that prices for plastic bags and rubber bands have begun to rise, increasing by 4-5 baht. He believes that in the future, pricesof raw materialsmay increase accordingly, but he is still reluctant to raise food prices, fearing loss of customers and high competition.
On 17 Mar 2026 GMT+7, a reporter reported that besides the rising and tightening oil prices, various plastic-related supplies that require imported plastic pellets for production have also started to increase in price.
Mr. Songsak Triamthisong, 50, a laab vendor at Laab Klang Thung located along the Buriram - Satuek road, Ban Dan subdistrict, Ban Dan district, Buriram province, stated that the price of plastic bags for food has risen by 4-5 baht per bag—from previously 38 baht to now 42 baht per bag. Rubber bands have also seen price increases.
Although the price increase per bag seems small at 4-5 baht, in percentage terms it is over 20 percent. When purchasing multiple items together, the higher costs become immediately apparent.
Songsak added that amid the current fuel-saving campaign, most customers order food to be packed in bags for home delivery, which further increases his use of plastic bags, not including the fuel costs for delivery. Nevertheless, providing this service is essential for survival.
Going forward, it is unclear whether food ingredients such as beef, pork, or seafood will also increase in price. If operators cite higher oil prices as a reason, it is expected that price hikes will occur. He admits that costs will clearly rise, but he is still hesitant to increase food prices for fear of losing customers to competitors in an already competitive market.