Bangkok: Prices of controlled goods are being frozen, while six product groups at risk of being affected by oil prices are being closely monitored. The Department of Internal Trade is taking decisive action to stabilize the market by freezing the prices of 59 controlled items and closely observing the oil cost situation arising from the Middle East crisis. No businesses have requested price increases thus far, but the department has identified fresh food, agricultural products, packaging, canned food, beverages, and construction materials as the product groups most susceptible to the impact.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Witiyakorn Maneenet, Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade, emphasized the department's commitment to regulating consumer goods prices, particularly those linked to oil prices and imported raw materials, to alleviate the public's cost of living amid global economic uncertainties. The Central Committee on Goods and Services (CCG) announced that 59 controlled goods are currently under legal supervision, requiring producers and distributors to seek permission before adjusting prices. The department is reviewing cost structures comprehensively and has appealed to businesses to maintain current prices.
An evaluation of the cost situation highlights six main product groups at risk due to energy prices and transportation costs. These include fresh food such as eggs, pork, and chicken; agricultural products like rice, palm oil, and fruits; consumer goods like tissue paper and paper packaging; canned foods, especially canned fish; beverages in plastic packaging such as drinking water, bottled milk, and cooking oil; and construction materials such as cement, rebar, paint, PVC pipes, and tiles.
The Department of Internal Trade has also been vigilant about the chemical fertilizer market, ensuring domestic stocks are sufficient and diversifying import sources from countries unaffected by the conflict, including Malaysia, Brunei, and Oman. Preparations are underway to connect fertilizers directly from producers to farmers for the upcoming planting season, focusing on key cash crops and major chemical fertilizers like urea, phosphate, and potassium. Additionally, a "Green Flag Fertilizer" campaign is being organized to help reduce costs for farmers.
To prevent market manipulation, the department employs a three-level commodity monitoring list mechanism. This includes a Sensitive List of 18 items monitored daily, a Priority Watch List of 4 items monitored twice a week, and a Watch List of 197 items monitored every 15 days. The Director-General assured that the current goods and price situation is manageable, with sufficient supply nationwide, and urged the public to purchase responsibly and avoid hoarding.
The department warns that legal action will be taken against price gouging, hoarding, or refusal to sell, with penalties including fines and imprisonment. The public is encouraged to report suspicious activities to the Department of Internal Trade hotline at 1569.