Thailand Business News — Morning Briefing | 29 October 2026 | Thailand, ASEAN and Global Markets

29 October 2026 — Southeast Asia and Global Markets Today’s briefing delves into Thailand’s industrial resurgence, evolving energy price risks, clean-energy supply chains in the region, the AI-fueled stock market surge, and Indonesia’s financial reforms.

Thailand’s automotive sector saw a 6.08% year-on-year decline in September, producing 120,319 vehicles. Domestic vehicle sales, however, surged 14.28% year on year, buoyed by electric vehicles and export growth of 4.55%, following a 2.04% drop in August. The Federation of Thai Industries forecasts 1.45 million vehicles for the year, down from an earlier 1.5 million target.

Factors influencing Thailand’s production include flooding disruptions, export demand, domestic purchasing power, and the shift toward electric vehicles.

Oil prices surged above $115 per barrel after a Houthi-aligned group claimed responsibility for an attack on Saudi Arabia’s largest refinery. Brent crude futures rose 1.3% to $115.36 per barrel, while WTI increased 1.22% to $101.12. The attack followed a dip in oil prices, revealing energy markets’ sensitivity to Middle Eastern developments. Elevated oil costs could impact Thailand’s recovery through higher transportation, logistics, and manufacturing expenses.

The International Energy Agency raised concerns on October 27th about Southeast Asia's reliance on a few countries for clean-energy equipment. With China dominating solar panel, wind turbine, EV, and battery manufacturing, ASEAN spends over $20 billion annually on Chinese clean-tech products. While imports help renewables grow, they create vulnerability to trade policy shifts and geopolitical tensions.

Birol noted that higher fuel prices have spurred solar power adoption, nuclear energy, and electric vehicles, but highlighted geopolitical risks as a potential obstacle.