• Power disruption for Hua Hin/Thailand Struggles with Scorching Heat
• THE IRAN WAR: Iran rejects ceasefire/A belligerent fool/Worldwide energy policy shift/Saudi Arabia hikes Asia oil price/PM unveils relief measures/Iran’s water weapon/Can alliances with the US be replaced?
• ECONOMY: Five Pillars to Drive Thai Economy/US trade report flags Thailand/Thai CEOs’ revenue confidence/February Export Growth Slows/Motor Show bookings hit record high
• TOURISM: Thai Travelers Cut Songkran Trips/Thai airlines trim routes/AirAsia X raises fares/SRT Opens Charter Trains/Phuket Hotels Push for Flights/
• THAILAND EXPERIENCE: The region’s disappearing recipes/Thailand’s vanishing summer classics
• HUA HIN TRANSPORT and LINKS 

Power disruption for Hua Hin areas tomorrow

The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), Hua Hin Branch has announced there will be temporary power outage in some areas of Hua Hin on 8 April 2026.

Work areas and schedule: 10 am–11 am, Hua Hin Soi 7; 11 am–noon, Hua Hin Soi 9; 1 pm–2 pm, Hua Hin Soi 9/1; and 2 pm–4 pmm Hua Hin Soi 19. Continued … 

Thailand Struggles with Scorching Heat and Thick Pollution Haze

The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a heat warning from today until Thursday. Many areas in Thailand could see temperatures exceed 42°C, along with hazy skies during the day.

The combination of record-level heat, poor air quality from haze, and unpredictable storms poses significant health and safety risks across Thailand, as the country moves deeper into its hot season. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can lead to heat-related illnesses, while deteriorating air quality contributes to respiratory issues, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions. Continued … 

Iran rejects ceasefire as Trump issues stark ultimatum over war

Iran has rejected a US-backed ceasefire proposal and insisted that any agreement must bring a permanent end to the war, as tensions escalate following a stark ultimatum from US President Donald Trump.

According to Iran’s official IRNA news agency, Tehran responded to a proposal delivered through Pakistan by outlining 10 key conditions. These include a complete end to regional hostilities, guarantees for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of sanctions and commitments to post-war reconstruction. Iran also pushed back firmly against pressure to reopen the strategic waterway immediately, signaling that it still sees control of Hormuz as a critical source of leverage. Continued … 

Fanatics, an obsessive, and a belligerent fool

We don’t have to look very far to find a useful historical analogy for the current crisis in the Middle East. In 1967, Egypt closed the Strait of Tiran to Israeli ships, and Israel replied with a surprise air attack that destroyed almost the entire Egyptian air force on the ground.

Israel followed up with a ground offensive that reached the Suez Canal – which then remained closed for the next eight years. Could something like this happen at the Strait of Hormuz now? Of course it could. In fact, at this point in the confrontation in the Gulf it will require a great deal of forbearance on both sides to avoid it. Continued … 

Middle East conflict drives a worldwide energy policy shift

The conflict in the Middle East that erupted on Feb. 28 has sent the biggest shock through global energy markets in history. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries more than 20 million barrels a day of crude oil and oil products, or around 20% of global oil consumption, has almost ground to a halt.

As a result, crude oil prices have surged above US$100 per barrel, while refined products, diesel, jet fuel, and LPG have risen even more sharply. Global LNG supply has also fallen by around 20% as a result of the crisis. Continued … 

Saudi Arabia hikes Asia oil price by US$17 as Thailand faces fresh fuel pressure

Saudi Arabia has sharply raised the official selling price of its Arab Light crude for Asian buyers for May delivery, adding fresh pressure to oil-importing economies such as Thailand as the Middle East conflict continues to disrupt energy markets.

The latest adjustment lifted the price by US$17 a barrel from the previous month, pushing the premium over the Oman-Dubai average to a record US$19.50 a barrel. The move reflects how severely the regional oil market has been shaken by the prolonged conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining at the center of global supply concerns. Continued … 

PM unveils relief measures as energy crisis intensifies

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced the outcome of the special Cabinet meeting held yesterday at Government House, saying that the fighting in the Middle East, a key global source of oil and natural gas, has caused the prices of oil and natural gas, as well as by-products of oil and gas production such as fertilizer and plastic pellets, to rise rapidly on world markets.

The impact is being felt worldwide, including in Thailand, which imports around 50% of its energy from the Middle East. Even if the conflict ends in the future, the infrastructure used to produce oil and natural gas in the Middle East will still need time to recover before normal output can resume. Continued … 

Iran’s water weapon against Gulf

The oil-rich monarchies of the Persian Gulf are often described as petrostates. But the US-Israeli war with Iran has highlighted that they are also saltwater kingdoms, societies whose survival depends on desalination, or converting seawater into potable water at industrial scale.

Life in the Gulf relies on the “black magic” of turning oil and oil revenue into water. This technological prowess has fueled the region’s dynamic growth, but now it looms as its greatest vulnerability. Continued … 

Can alliances with the US be replaced?

The increasingly loud debate over the future of alliances – after reports that the US could scale back or even withdraw from NATO – is nerve-racking. It has caused alarm across Europe and in Southeast Asia, another node of the US alliance network.

Even without any official decision, remarks by US President Donald Trump on social media were enough to shake already fragile US alliances. The question now frequently asked by Thai policymakers is: What comes next if alliances weaken? Continued … 

Government Unveils Five Pillars to Drive Thai Economy

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul convened a special cabinet meeting yesterday to approve the government’s policy statement for Parliament. The statement focuses on using five main pillars to strengthen the economy, address rising energy prices due to the Middle East conflict, and restructure society. The policy will be presented to Parliament today.

The administration plans to implement a “Strategic Cluster Integration System,” uniting public and private sectors. The government will shift its role to supporter and facilitator, while accelerating digital development in public administration. The five strategic clusters are: macroeconomics, investment and future industries; production, trade and services; infrastructure, natural resources and environment; social welfare; and foreign affairs and security. Continued … 

US trade report flags Thailand over market distortions, tariff barriers

Thailand has come under renewed trade scrutiny from the United States after the Office of the United States Trade Representative released its 2026 National Trade Estimate Report, a wide-ranging annual review of foreign trade barriers affecting US exports and investment. The report forms part of the Trump administration’s broader push to challenge what it describes as unfair trade practices and expand reciprocal market access.

In the Thailand section, the report said the US goods trade deficit with Thailand widened to US$71.9 billion in 2025, up 58% from 2024. It said US goods exports to Thailand totaled US$19.5 billion, while US imports from Thailand reached US$91.3 billion, taking total goods trade between the two countries to about US$110.8 billion. Continued … 

Thai CEOs’ revenue confidence at 3-year low

Confidence among Thai business leaders has fallen sharply, with only 24% of chief executives expressing strong confidence in their organizations’ revenue growth this year, down from 47% in 2023 and the lowest level in three years.

Findings from PwC Thailand’s 29th Global CEO Survey “Thailand: Leading through Uncertainty in the Age of AI”, show that confidence is being eroded by a convergence of pressures, including economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, rising costs, cyber risks, and the accelerating pace of technological change. Continued … 

February 2026 Export Growth Slows as Imports Reach 50-Month Peak

Thai exports in February slowed to a growth of 9.9% year-on-year (YOY), with a total export value of US$29.4 billion. This was a significant deceleration from January’s 24.4% YOY surge and below forecasts.

The export slowdown was coupled with a sharp 11.1% month-on-month seasonal adjustment contraction. Electronics led exports, expanding over 56.8% YOY due to global demand and investment in related industries, especially to the US, where exports rose 40.5%. Gold exports grew moderately by 18.2%, affected by falling global prices. Continued … 

Motor Show bookings hit record high, reaching 21% of annual target

The 47th Bangkok International Motor Show closed on a high note after generating a record 132,951 car bookings, with BYD leading the pack and Toyota coming in second, underscoring the event’s strong role in driving Thailand’s automotive market despite a fragile economic backdrop.

The show, organized by Grand Prix International, also recorded 2,056 motorcycle bookings and drew a total of 1,798,312 visitors during the event. Continued … 

Thai Travelers Cut Songkran Trips as Fuel Prices Surge

Rising fuel prices, fears of shortages, and the ongoing war in the Middle East are dampening travel sentiment in Thailand ahead of the Songkran festival, with operators warning domestic demand may be weaker or flat compared with last year. Higher costs are discouraging long-distance trips, prompting many people to stay closer to home.

The conflict in the Middle East has driven up global fuel prices and sharply increased international airfares. Some European routes have doubled in price, as flights requiring Middle East stopovers have fallen by around 50%. Continued … 

Thai airlines trim routes as jet fuel surge bites

Thai airlines are starting to cut routes and adjust schedules, as soaring fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict begin to bite, with Thai Lion Air and Nok Air joining Thai AirAsia and Thai AirAsia X in temporarily suspending selected services under the summer 2026 timetable.

The latest moves come as aviation fuel prices have jumped sharply in the wake of the war in the Middle East, forcing carriers to tighten cost controls, especially on medium- and long-haul routes where fuel accounts for a large share of operating expenses. Some domestic services are also beginning to feel the strain. Continued … 

AirAsia X raises fares by up to 40% as Iran war drives fuel costs higher

AirAsia X is raising fares by as much as 40% and adding about 20% to its fuel surcharge as the Iran war drives jet fuel prices sharply higher, putting fresh pressure on the Malaysian low-cost carrier.

AirAsia X said yesterday that jet fuel prices had jumped to an average of US$200 per barrel from around US$90, creating a major challenge for the airline. The surge is hitting the carrier particularly hard because its business model depends on low fares, while also exposing the fragile state of its finances. Continued … 

SRT Opens Charter Trains to Boost Tourism Around Thailand

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has launched chartered tourist and luxury train services aimed at increasing revenue and promoting domestic travel. The initiative allows organizations and travelers to hire entire trains or individual carriages for tourism, leisure, or business purposes.

SRT is seeking to enhance the image of rail travel by offering modern, flexible services tailored to evolving lifestyles. According to Maetapat Soonthonwaraphas, director of the Public Relations Centre at SRT, rail tourism has steadily gained popularity due to its unique experience and relaxed atmosphere. Continued … 

Phuket Hotels Push for Increased Direct Europe Flight Connections

The Thai Hotels Association’s southern chapter is urging authorities to boost direct flights from Europe to Phuket in response to tourism disruptions from the Middle East conflict. The ongoing war has led to abrupt halts in flights, as several airlines suspended operations. This has caused a decrease in European tourist arrivals at Phuket International Airport by 4% in late March.

The reliance on Middle East transit routes, accounting for 25%–30% of flights, has exacerbated the situation. However, the Asian market, especially China, has remained robust, showing a 47% increase in arrivals. Despite stable overall hotel occupancy, the expansion of hotel supply in Phuket outpaces demand, putting pressure on occupancy rates. Continued … 

Tastes of Nostalgia: The region’s disappearing recipes

Southeast Asia is often considered the center of exciting culinary experiences. The region’s rich legacy of cooking traditions and food preparation techniques is a treasure trove that is always worth discovering. However, for a number of reasons, some of these dishes are now disappearing from tables and becoming rare finds.

There are various reasons for these changes in diet. Food and culinary traditions form an integral part of society. A wide and diverse territory, Southeast Asia boasts a rich compilation of flavors, techniques, and rituals that mirror each country’s history, geography, and heritage. Continued … 

The art of the chill: Thailand’s vanishing summer classics

While modern air conditioning offers a temporary escape, the true secret to surviving a Thai summer lies on the plate and on the palate. Here, we explore six time-honored delicacies — from royal palace staples to street-side favorites — designed to cool the body and delight the senses.

When the mercury rises, most Thais seek comfort in air-conditioned spaces, dropping ice into every conceivable drink to blunt the heat. While ice cubes are a summer staple today, they were a luxury introduced only during the reign of King Rama V. Long before modern refrigeration, however, ingenious Thais mastered the art of “eating to cool down.” Continued … 

Hua Hin Links and Transport

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