Thailand's Department of Intellectual Property released first-half 2025 statistics showing intellectual property applications grew across all categories, with 38,626 total requests representing a 7.75% increase from the same period in 2024. Registration approvals climbed over 12% while copyright notifications surged 33.62%, signaling stronger emphasis on IP protection among Thai businesses, researchers, and creative professionals.

On July 21, the department advanced government and Commerce Ministry policy to leverage intellectual property as a tool for strengthening SMEs. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Sudthammaphanth tasked the department with accelerating IP protection systems to support value creation from innovation and creativity among Thai entrepreneurs, with expanding IP filing and registration statistics demonstrating success.

Department Director Orman Thapthueatham revealed that January–June 2025 saw 38,626 IP applications (trademarks, invention patents, petty patents, and design patents), up 7.75% year-on-year. Registrations totaled 30,051 across all types, a 12.24% increase. Copyright notices filed rose 33.62% to 9,069 entries.

Trademarks led with 28,507 applications, up 8.01%, with top categories including health and pharmaceutical products (3,405), retail and marketing services (3,299), and cleaning and beauty products (3,094). Thai applicants made up 56% and foreign applicants 44%. Top trademark filers included Fox Formulate (166), Dymatech Thailand (154), and Born Agriscience (149)—all agricultural chemical firms. Trademark registrations reached 22,189, up 5.91%.

Invention patents saw 4,299 applications, up 4.47%, with pharmaceuticals and health products among the leading innovation categories.

Thailand seizes 100 million baht in fake ‘Made in Thailand’ productsLegacyThai Customs and the Department of Foreign Trade yesterday, July 20, announced the seizure of more than 100 million baht worth of goods falsely labelled as “Made in Thailand” at Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri. They said the operation targeted imported goods from China that were falsely labelled as being made in Thailand, a practice that undermines the credibility of Thai exports and the international trading system. Inspections focused on businesses operating in Free Zones and IEAT Free Zones to prevent companies from falsely claiming Thai origin for imported products. Photo via Siam Chon News Officials identified two major cases during the operation. The first involved 5.37 million TWOMOON cigarettes imported from China but labelled “Made in Thailand,” with an estimated economic impact of about 17 million baht. The second case involved more than 202,000 sets of semi-finished cutter blades and related production equipment imported from China. Investigators said the shipment was considered finished products ready for sale despite being labelled as “Made in Thailand”, with an estimated economic impact of more than 82.7 million baht. Both cases are suspected of violating the Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017) and related laws, reported Siam Chon News. Photo via Siam Chon News The department said falsely declaring a product’s country of origin not only breaches the law but also distorts international trade and could be used to circumvent trade measures imposed by Thailand’s trading partners. The department said it will strengthen inspections, increase penalties, suspend trade privileges for offenders and continue working with relevant agencies to tackle the practice. Customs also released enforcement figures for Laem Chabang Port covering October 2025 to July 10 this year. During the 10-month period, officials handled 177 major cases involving false origin claims, hazardous waste, counterfeit goods and cannabis smuggling, with estimated economic losses exceeding 1.3778 billion baht. Photo via Siam Chon News Similarly, back in 2025, the public health ministry, along with other relevant departments, conducted a raid on a supermarket in Pathum Thani and uncovered several Chinese products, including milk beverages, eggs, minced meat, and snacks, none of which had FDA approval. The story Thailand seizes 100 million baht in fake ‘Made in Thailand’ products as seen on Thaiger News.

Krung Thai Bank (Outs Savings Bank) Director Songpol Chiwapanyarojanai announced the launch of a new lending program to support small-business operators and self-employed workers facing economic hardship. Rising energy costs and living expenses have hit small entrepreneurs particularly hard, limiting their access to capital for business development. The bank's "Microentrepreneur Career-Building Loan" program offers unsecured loans of up to 50,000 baht per borrower at a flat interest rate not exceeding 0.75 percent monthly, with no collateral requirement and repayment terms of up to five years. The streamlined application process is available immediately through the MyMo app. The program is open to Thai nationals aged 20 to 65, including small-business owners, freelancers, wage earners, traders, and service providers seeking additional income. Those interested can visit www.gsb.or.th or call the GSB Contact Center at 1115 for more details.

On July 21, 2569, the Thai Meteorological Department issued a 24-hour weather forecast predicting increased rainfall across Thailand, with heavy rain in some areas of the north and upper northeast. The intensifying southwest monsoon affecting the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand, combined with a low-pressure system over northern Vietnam, is driving the forecast. Residents in the north and upper northeast are advised to be vigilant against hazards from heavy and accumulated rainfall.

The upper Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand will see waves of 1–2 meters, while the lower Andaman Sea expects waves around 1 meter. Areas with thunderstorms may see waves exceeding 2 meters. Fishermen are cautioned to exercise care and avoid sailing in thunderstorm zones.

A low-pressure system strengthening over the Pacific Ocean is expected to intensify into a depression and move across the northern Philippines between July 24–25, 2569.

Detailed forecasts for 6 p.m. today through 6 p.m. tomorrow:

North: Thunderstorms affecting 60% of the area with heavy rain in some zones, mainly in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Lamphun, Lampang, and Tak provinces. Low 21–26°C, high 28–35°C. Southwest winds 10–20 km/h.

Northeast: Thunderstorms affecting 40% of the area with heavy rain in some zones, mainly Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, and Nakhon Phanom. Low 23–25°C, high 32–36°C. Southwest winds 10–20 km/h.

Central: Thunderstorms affecting 40% of the area, mainly Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Lopburi, Saraburi, Kanchanaburi, and Ratchaburi. Low 25–26°C, high 35–37°C. Southwest winds 10–20 km/h.

East: Thunderstorms affecting 40% of the area, mainly Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat. Low 23–27°C, high 33–36°C. Southwest winds 15–35 km/h. Seas 1–2 meters; over 2 meters in thunderstorm areas.

South (East Coast): Thunderstorms affecting 30% of the area, mainly Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. Low 22–25°C, high 32–36°C. Southwest winds 15–30 km/h. Seas around 1 meter; over 2 meters in thunderstorm zones.

South (West Coast): Thunderstorms affecting 40% of the area, mainly Phuket, Krabi, Trang, and Satun. Low 23–25°C, high 32–35°C. From Phang Nga northward: southwest winds 15–35 km/h, seas 1–2 meters, over 2 meters in thunderstorms. From Phuket southward: southwest winds 15–30 km/h, seas around 1 meter, over 2 meters in thunderstorm areas.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thunderstorms affecting 40% of the area, mainly afternoon to evening. Low 26–28°C, high 35–37°C. Southwest winds 10–20 km/h.

On July 20, 2025, Ramathidbi Hospital's Faculty of Medicine at Mahidol University released findings from the seventh National Health Examination Survey (NHES 7) conducted in 2024–2025, presenting "Unlocking Thai Elderly Health: Data for an Aging Society's Future" at the Abroom Hotel in Bangkok. Assistant Professor Dr. Rerngrudee Pathanavanitchakul, head of the survey project, reported that Thailand's elderly population has tripled over 30 years and now stands at 21 percent, approximately 14 million people. The lifestyles of Thai elders have changed significantly—they have higher education levels, greater access to the internet and technology, and have shifted from extended family living to living with spouses or alone, with 1.4 million elderly living solo (1 million of them women). Elderly employment rates have risen 1.5-fold over two decades, with 52 percent currently working, particularly those aged 60–65, of whom 70 percent remain employed. However, income adequacy has declined sharply, dropping from 69 percent to 39 percent between 2004 and 2025.

In terms of health, dependency in daily living activities nearly doubled between 2009 and 2025, rising from 15.5 percent to 28 percent, affecting approximately 4 million elderly. The Northeastern region shows the highest proportion of dependent elderly at 36 percent. Only 12 percent of all elderly require caregivers—about 1.8 million people—yet 55 percent of those who need care lack a caregiver, roughly 1 million individuals. Currently, over 95 percent of elderly caregivers are family members. Regionally, the Northeast faces the greatest challenges, with higher rates of dependency, falls, inadequate income, unmet caregiver needs, and chronic diseases including anemia, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic syndrome compared to other regions.

Dr. Rerngrudee noted that survey data clearly shows elderly who continue working have better health than those who do not, with lower rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and cognitive decline. Working elderly also show higher levels of physical activity, lower depression risk, and fewer falls. Beyond employment, social participation also correlates with better elderly health. "Given these changing lifestyles and the positive health effects of work and social engagement," she stated, "society should shift its perspective, move beyond the label 'elderly,' and redefine old age as beginning at 65 rather than 60. Alongside this, policies should support elderly employment, adjust retirement ages, and reform benefits and protections. We must also promote social activity spaces for the elderly and prioritize preventive health policies that view elderly health positively rather than treating seniors as a burden." Assistant Professor Dr. Chalubla Chalemsri, a geriatric medicine specialist at Siriraj Hospital, provided additional information on dementia among Thai elderly, identifying cognitive decline as a critical public health issue in Thailand's aging population.