The Joint Management and Monitoring Center of the Situation in the Middle East on 8 March 2026 at 18:10 hr held a press briefing at Government House to provide an update on the situation in the Middle East. There have been no reports of Thai nationals injured or killed, while chemical fertilizer stocks in Thailand remain sufficient.

Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat, Acting Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed issues related to the situation in the Middle East and progress in assisting Thai nationals. Mr. Nantapong Chiralerspong, Director-General of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, briefed on the status of chemical fertilizer stocks in Thailand.

Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat stated that the overall situation in the Middle East remains volatile and uncertain, particularly in Iran, Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Lebanon. At the same time, Iran has indicated that its operations would be directed specifically at military bases of the United States and would not target other countries in the region, describing such actions as measures of self-defense. Meanwhile, the President of the United States has signaled the possibility of a strong response against Iran, contributing to continued tensions and uncertainty in the region. Regarding aviation, although Qatar has closed its airspace to commercial flights, Qatar Airways has initiated limited emergency flights to transport cargo and evacuate stranded passengers. At present, there have been no reports of Thai nationals injured or killed. However, due to the continuing uncertainty, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Thai nationals in high-risk areas to consider leaving the area as soon as possible and to register their residence and contact details with the relevant Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General.

Regarding assistance to Thai nationals in Iran, a first group of 62 Thai nationals from Tehran and Qom safely arrived in Turkey on the evening of 7 March. Officials from the Department of Consular Affairs and the Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara facilitated their entry at the border checkpoint. The group subsequently traveled to the city of Van to await their return to Thailand by air, which will take place in two groups. The first group is scheduled to arrive in Thailand on 9 March, and the second group on 10 March. In addition, another group of Thai nationals in Iran is scheduled to depart the country on 10 March. The Department of Consular Affairs and the Royal Thai Embassies in Tehran and Ankara are closely coordinating efforts to ensure their safe evacuation. For Thai nationals in Iraq, evacuations across the border into Turkey have been conducted in three rounds, totaling 18 individuals. In the latest round, 10 Thai nationals arrived in the city of Mardin on the night of 7 March and will proceed to Istanbul to continue their journey back to Thailand. Overall, a total of 292 Thai nationals stranded in the Middle East have been assisted in returning to Thailand.

Mr. Nantapong Chiralerspong stated that the Ministry of Commerce has been closely monitoring the situation of chemical fertilizer stocks in Thailand, as chemical fertilizers are regulated commodities under the law governing prices of goods and services. Importers, manufacturers, and distributors are required to report their import volumes and stock levels on a continuous basis. According to the latest data as of January 2026, Thailand has approximately 1.52 million tons of chemical fertilizer in stock, while the average monthly demand is around 0.8 million tons, indicating that supply remains sufficient to meet domestic needs. Regarding urea fertilizer, which is a key raw material to produce various fertilizer formulas, Thailand currently holds approximately 0.32 million tons in stock, equivalent to about 6.5 million bags. Additional imports from Saudi Arabia and Malaysia have increased the total supply to approximately 8.9 million bags. This level of stock is considered adequate to support ongoing agricultural production. 

The Ministry of Commerce affirmed that fertilizers currently available in the market are from stocks procured prior to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, and therefore no price adjustments have been made. The Government will continue to closely monitor production costs and price structures to ensure that any price changes do not adversely affect farmers. Furthermore, provincial commerce offices nationwide have been instructed to intensify inspections of fertilizer sales to prevent opportunistic price increases. Violations will be subject to legal action, with penalties including imprisonment for up to seven years, a fine of up to 140,000 baht, or both. Farmers are therefore encouraged to remain confident that fertilizer supplies are sufficient and that there is no need to rush to purchase or stockpile fertilizers. 

If fertilizers are found to be sold at unreasonably high prices, complaints may be reported to the Department of Internal Trade Hotline at 1569 or provincial commerce offices nationwide.