Minister of Commerce Suphajee Suthumpun has stressed efforts to ensure that prices of consumer goods and essential products would be stabilized amidst global energy price volatility, while various measures would be implemented to ease the cost of living for the people. 

Minister Suphajee stated that such controlled goods as instant noodles, canned fish, powdered milk, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and animal feed must receive approval from the Department of Internal Trade before any price increase. Another group of products, such as laundry detergent, liquid detergent, shampoo, and dishwashing liquid, as well as packaged rice, fish sauce, and seasoning sauce, must notify authorities in advance if prices are to be raised. She said that no traders have so far requested to increase prices.

Concerning measures to help reduce the cost of living, she said, the Ministry of Commerce was preparing to hold public hearings in order to consider adding more essential products in the list of controlled goods during the crisis. It is also seeking cooperation from major manufacturers to distribute special-price goods across all 77 provinces. 

As for the agriculture sector, Minister Suphajee said that the current domestic stocks of chemical fertilizers are sufficient through May. However, shipments already on the way from the Middle East that would increase the stocks, making them sufficient until August. The Ministry of Commerce is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in tackling the problem of transport from the Middle East.

Ms. Kanitha Kungsawanich, Inspector General of the Ministry of Commerce and Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry, gave more details on measures to control prices of goods and ease the cost of living at a press briefing of the Joint Management and Monitoring Center for the Situation in the Middle East on 18 March 2026.

She said that the ministry has implemented measures to manage both prices and supply throughout the supply chain, ensuring sufficient availability of essential goods at fair prices. Provincial commerce offices nationwide are conducting daily price monitoring to prevent price gouging and stockpiling. 

Regarding support for farmers, the current domestic fertilizer stocks are sufficient through May, and prices remain under control. Additional shipments from the Middle East are being awaited to replenish supplies, while efforts are underway to source alternative raw materials.

The Ministry of Commerce will also take this opportunity to encourage farmers to adjust fertilizer formulas in order to rely less on imported inputs and increase the use of organic materials. Support measures will also be implemented to help reduce fertilizer costs.

In addition, the ministry reaffirmed that consumer goods remain sufficient to meet domestic demand. The public is encouraged to consume responsibly, only as necessary and in appropriate quantities, to ensure continuous and equitable distribution of goods, so that all sectors will be able to get through this situation together.