Dept Of Internal Trade Rejects Calls For A Hike In Price Increase On 22 Items

[Jai Dee]

Dept of Internal Trade rejects calls for a hike in price increase on 22 items

The Department of Internal Trade has rejected a proposal for price increases of more than 22 items, while preparing to find control measures to deal with the situation in the future.

Director-general of the Department of Internal Trade, Siripol Yodmuangcharoen (ศิริพล ยอดเมืองเจริญ) said that about 50 companies have proposed that the prices of 22 goods be increased due to high production cost. He said, however, that the Department has not approved any proposals, adding that it will monitor the sale of those products closely to prevent producers and entrepreneurs from taking advantage of consumers.

However, the Director-general said that the Department has prepared measures to dela with rising produce prices. The measures will be based on oil prices. He added that the goods will be classified into 1-5 categories, to evaluate the situation on price increase. He said that controlled goods include Benzene fuel, Diesel fuel, cement, fertilizer, powdered milk, fresh milk, and sugar.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 07 March 2006

[PeaceBlondie]

But if they refuse to raise the controlled price of domestically sold sugar, without restricting the export of sugar, won't that continue to cause a shortage of refined sugar in the supermarkets? Is it true that the world price is more than double the wholesale price of sugar in Thailand?

[cclub75]

This is amazing.

This government burns its last bullets. With an incredible constance in stupidity and/or cynism, they continue this policy.

The majority of businesses suffer from higher costs. The bight idea that the government has found in order to gain time, save face and ultimatly save its ass (and win elections), is to controle the prices. Bravo !

Ah ah ah ah ! Back in USRR ? The more they wait, the more it will hurt when inflation will run like water.

I agree that politics need a little bit of cynism, but at such level it's just plain stupidity.

[penzman]

They always end up somehow find a way to get around it.

Next time you're at the hardware store, check out the brown bottles of paint thinner, 60% full, plastic gallons of tile glue 60% full. Many other products are the same.

My hardware store used to receive electric wire in 100 meter long bundles.

They went down to 95 meters, probably 90 meters now but at the same price....

When the producers are forbidden to raise prices, they simply reduce on quantity.

[Jai Dee]

The cabinet has approved the wholesale price increase of plantation sugar

The Cabinet has approved the wholesale price increase of plantation sugar for the first time in 22 years.

The Deputy Permanent-Secretary to the Industry Ministry and the President of Office of the Cane and Sugar Board, Mr. Damri Sukhothanang (ดำริ สุโขธนัง), informed that the wholesale price of plantation sugar has been raised by three baht per kilogram. Thus, the wholesale price is now at 14 baht per kilogram. Meanwhile, the price of refined sugar hikes to 15 baht per kilogram.

The Ministry of Commerce and the provincial boards will be responsible in determining the retail prices of different sugar products in each province. Mr. Damri said that this price adjustment is an attempt to solve the problems relating to the cane and sugar industry such as the smuggling of sugar to the neighbouring countries of Thailand.

However, prices of milk and soft drink products are likely to be surged as a result of the adjustment.

Source: ThaisNews ประจำวันอังคารที่ 7 มีนาคม 2549

[TAWP]

Why would the price of Milk...be affected of the price of sugar?

[Ricardo]

Why would the price of Milk...be affected of the price of sugar?

Don't they add sugar to everthing here ? I thought it was the most-common additive, after MSG ? Although it beats me - how they get the cows to eat raw-sugar.

[Jai Dee]

90 sacks of sugar seized by border police

The checkpoint in Mae Sod seized sugar smuggled to evade custom taxes yesterday.

Custom inspector Saktiwut Wongmonta (ศักติวุฑฒิ์ วงษ์มณฑา) led officials in checking the Moei (เมย) River in Tak province and found that a group of people were transporting sugar. Border police nabbed the smugglers before they were ready for their escape to neighboring country. The police, therefore, seized 90 sacks of sugar worth 60,000 baht.

Mr. Saktiwut said that most smugglings are done along the border. He said that after the cabinet has approved a price hike yesterday, the problem of smuggling will be eased, as the differences of prices of sugar in domestic market and abroad will be reduced.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 March 2006

[Jai Dee]

Dept of Internal Trade will monitor sale of sugar

The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has issued fresh warnings to sugar operators not to stock or refuse to sell the goods following the price increase. The DIT also asked for cooperation from various agencies to monitor the smuggling of sugar across the border.

Director-general of the Department , Siripol Yodmuangcharoen (ศิริพล ยอดเมืองเจริญ) said that sugar cane farmers suffer the loss of income from planting sugar cane, prompting the government to increase the price of sugar by 3 baht per kilogram to help relieve their burden. He said that the Department has set up measures to prevent sugar shortages. He added that the people will receive little impact from this price hike, as Thai people consume only 9 kilogram of sugar per year per person. However, some entrepreneurs, such as candy and soda producers, may be affected.

As for necessary goods, the Department will closely monitor their prices, adding that related agencies and provincial governors will be asked to check prices of sugar, to prevent smuggling of the item abroad. He also warns the operators against stocking or delaying sale or refusing to sell the product, adding that violators will face legal action.

Mr. Siripol insisted that the price of sugar in Thailand after the price adjustment is still lower than global prices. However, he said that as the difference between domestic sugar prices and overseas prices are reduced, he believed that the smuggling of sugar will also decrease.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 March 2006

[Jai Dee]

Khunying Sudarat affirms that the cabinet decision to increase factory sugar prices is not to reduce the political tensions

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan (สุดารัตน์ เกยุราพันธุ์) has affirmed that the Cabinet's decision to increase factory sugar prices by three baht per kilogram is not an attempt to reduce the current political tension.

The new price has been announced and endorsed today. Meanwhile, some sources have claimed that this approval is due to the pressure of cane farmers who are planning gather in front of the Government House, if the government still maintains the same prices. Khunying Sudarat said that the government has directly solved the farmers' problems, and the price adjustment is unrelated to the current political turmoil. She said that the government intends to relief people’s suffering in accordance with the consideration of various units such as the Commerce Ministry.

The Cabinet's decision will initially result in the price increases of sweetened condensed milk and soft drink. However, the government has assigned the Commerce Ministry to take care of the matter, in order to prevent over-priced adjustments.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 March 2006

[jdinasia]

geeze the price of Roti is gonna go up?!!?!

[Jai Dee]

Ministry official says sugar price hike will still fall within a reasonable margin

A deputy of the Ministry of Industry affirms that even though sugar prices will increase by 3 baht per kilogram, but when compared to sugar prices in neighboring countries this was still considered relatively inexpensive.

Mrs. Sudaporn Lompasara (ชุตาภรณ์ ลัมพะสาระ), associate deputy of the Ministry of Industry, stated that the price of sugar in the country has not increased for over 26 years, which has caused a steady decline in the production of sugar. She stated that the price increase still makes sugar a relatively inexpensive product when compared to its selling price in neighboring countries. Laos sugar price is at 21 baht, Cambodia 19 baht, Vietnam 27 baht, Indonesia 26-30 baht, and Burma 33 baht. Heavy producers of sugar on the world market such as Brazil buy their sugar at 25 baht.

This price difference between Thai sugar and foreign sugar has made sugar smuggling a viable operation, with repeated efforts to smuggle sugar out of Thailand for sales in neighboring countries. This is one of the main reasons why Thailand must increase its sugar price by 3 baht. Industries dependent on sugar will be closely wathed over by the Ministry of Industry so that assistance may be rendered at any time, but the deputy believes that there will be very little overall impact on industries.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 March 2006