
Some 95% of flood-hit businesses surveyed by Thailand’s Industry Ministry need financial assistance, Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said. A ministry assessment as of October 2, 2026, identified 4,216 affected businesses across 55 provinces and preliminary damage of 147.84 million baht.
The Industry Ministry’s Crisis Management Centre (CMC) recorded 126 industrial factories, 4,006 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), 82 community enterprises and two mining operations among the affected businesses in its October 2 assessment.
The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME D Bank) is preparing to suspend principal and interest repayments for up to 12 months for businesses affected directly or indirectly by the flooding, according to Varawut.
SME D Bank’s planned emergency loans for directly affected businesses would provide 10% of their existing credit limit, capped at 200,000 baht. Interest would be charged at the minimum lending rate (MLR) per year, with repayment terms of up to three years and a 12-month principal repayment holiday.
Varawut also outlined a three-month suspension of principal and interest repayments under the SME fund operating through the Pracharath programme.
The Department of Industrial Promotion (DIP) is preparing a 50-million-baht “Quick Cash for Disaster Recovery” loan programme. New borrowers would be able to apply for up to 1 million baht per borrower or business, with no interest charged for the first six months.
For existing DIP borrowers in good standing, the planned assistance includes an automatic four-month suspension of principal and interest repayments and a 50% reduction in monthly instalments for six months. Repayment periods could be extended by up to two years, while refinancing would be subject to specified conditions.
Bangkok had the highest number of affected businesses in the Industry Ministry’s October 2 assessment, with 1,114. Samut Prakan followed with 499, ahead of Prachin Buri with 405, Rayong with 272 and Pathum Thani with 232.
Sa Kaeo recorded the highest preliminary damage estimate in the Industry Ministry’s assessment, at 58.17 million baht. Nakhon Pathom followed at 16.65 million baht, then Samut Prakan at 14.34 million baht, Pathum Thani at 14.15 million baht and Chanthaburi at 9.58 million baht.
The Department of Industrial Promotion, working with provincial industry offices, plans to begin visiting businesses in areas where floodwater has receded in the week beginning October 5. The most urgent cases would take priority, with more than 200 businesses already requesting assistance.
For businesses in areas that remain flooded, the Department of Industrial Promotion and provincial industry offices have been providing advice by telephone and video call.
Around 5% of businesses surveyed by the Industry Ministry needed non-financial assistance, including drainage around factories, sandbags, large flood-barrier bags and water pumps. Requests also covered relief bags, drinking water and other necessities.
The Industry Ministry also recorded requests for building restoration and repairs, cleaning, repairs to machinery and electrical systems, and fee waivers among businesses needing non-financial support.
The Department of Industrial Promotion’s Rebuild SMEs programme would send assessment teams to examine the condition of affected businesses, identify problems and arrange specialist advice and solutions tailored to each operator. Varawut said the aim was to help businesses restart machinery and resume operations as quickly as possible.
The Department of Industrial Works (DIW) is preparing a notice to waive annual fees for factories in disaster-hit areas, reducing costs during recovery.