Minister Supachai announced a new list of seven controlled goods and services, acknowledging that not all product prices can be regulated. She affirmed efforts to protect essential goods to minimize hardship for the public and prevent opportunistic price hikes during the crisis. So far, no businesses have requested price increases.
26 Mar 2026 GMT+7 Ms. Supachai Suthammanun, Minister of Commerce, addressed price management following a 6-baht per liter diesel price increase, stating the government has urgent assistance measures comprising seven actions. The Ministry of Commerce will aid vulnerable groups holding welfare cards through the 'Thai Help Thai' project, which negotiates with producers to select house brands and secondary brands of daily-use products, selling them at special prices across 77 provinces nationwide, starting April to May 2026. Additionally, the 'Blue Flag' discount event for essential goods will run from March to August 2026.
Regarding oversight of goods and services, the meeting of the Central Committee on Prices of Goods and Services (CCPGS) on 25 Mar 2026 resolved to add seven more items to the list of controlled goods and services. This decision followed consultations with all relevant sectors and addresses urgent needs for regulation during the crisis. The new items include plastic pellets, young coconuts and related products, white snapper fish, bottled drinking water, fish sauce, soy sauce, and soybean meal, increasing the total controlled goods and services from 59 to 66. The proposal is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration on 31 Mar 2026.
Specifically, plastic pellets, young coconuts and related products, and white snapper fish will be subject to legal measures requiring price and volume disclosure. Bottled drinking water, fish sauce, soy sauce, and soybean meal will not have legal measures but will be listed for control to enable management and legal action if problems arise.
At the same time, legal measures were strengthened for chicken, pork, and eggs. Previously, only price notification was required without enforcement. Now, under Section 27 of the Price of Goods and Services Act B.E. 2542 (1999), if urgent, authorities can invoke Sections 25 or 26 with CCPGS approval within three days. Section 25 allows setting sale prices, maximum profits, prohibiting or permitting exports/imports, and banning sales. Section 26 grants authority to require disclosure of goods and services information.
Regarding sugar, authority is currently delegated to the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board, which must notify the Department of Internal Trade before price adjustments. Meanwhile, medicines, medical supplies, and online business transport services, which require base prices and price controls through permit requests, are awaiting baseline prices from relevant agencies: the Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health Service Support, Office of Trade Competition Commission, and Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.
Additionally, measures for eight controlled goods were upgraded. Six consumer items—tissue and facial paper, shampoo, detergent and washing liquid, dishwashing products, sanitary pads, and bar and liquid soap—now require price adjustment permits before sale, instead of just price notification as before. Two other items, crude palm oil and bottled palm oil, have new rules. Crude palm oil, previously controlled only for transport and inventory logging, now requires export permits. Bottled palm oil, which had no prior measures, now requires price adjustment permits before sale. For onions, previously controlled for transport and inventory, new rules require reporting import volume, sales, stock, storage, and buyers.
"In abnormal situations, we acknowledge we cannot control all prices but focus on essential goods that impact daily life," Supachai said. "For uncontrolled items, if the public detects exploitation, they can report it. The government is ready to investigate promptly to ensure fairness. Although diesel prices have risen to 9 baht per liter, no goods have requested price increases yet. The Department of Internal Trade and Office of Trade Policy and Strategy are analyzing the impact on products."
Meanwhile, Mr. Somchai Panratanacharoen, honorary advisor to the Thai Wholesale-Retail Trade Association, said the sudden 6-baht fuel price hike has caused some small transport operators to begin suspending delivery services. For example, on the Sing Buri to Khon Kaen route, diesel prices agreed upon previously were about 30 baht per liter, now rising to 39 baht—a 30% increase. Transporters are negotiating with product owners to adjust delivery fees, expecting agreements within 1-3 days. If no agreement is reached, transport may halt, potentially causing product shortages in many areas.
"Goods expected to be heavily affected include liquor and beer, bottled water, energy drinks, and seasonings like fish sauce, soy sauce, and cooking sauces because of their heavy load and limited shipment units per trip, sharply increasing per-unit transport costs," he added. "Currently, no producers have notified price increases since the fuel price rise is recent."
