BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand recorded 68,286 new business registrations in the first nine months of 2026, up 1.4% from a year earlier, while registered capital fell 5.05% to 203.4 billion baht. Business closures rose 16.05%, with registered capital among departing businesses climbing 76.03%.
The Department of Business Development said 8,088 businesses registered in September, up 2.21% from August but down 0.83% year on year. Their combined registered capital reached 21.74 billion baht, rising 29.33% month on month and 9.44% compared with September 2025.
Three sectors recorded particularly strong growth in new registrations during January–September. Online retail registrations rose 47.97% to 2,039 businesses, while restaurants and eateries increased 19.39% to 3,343. Retail clothing shops recorded the fastest growth, jumping 89.86% to 843 registrations.
Despite the increase in new businesses, closures continued to rise. A total of 13,785 businesses registered to cease operations during the first nine months, up from 11,879 in the same period last year. Their combined registered capital reached 120.74 billion baht, compared with 68.59 billion baht a year earlier.
In September alone, 2,365 businesses registered to close, up 5.39% from August and 10% year on year. Registered capital among businesses closing that month totaled 8.07 billion baht, an increase of 14.74% from the previous month and 45.28% from September 2025.
As of September 30, Thailand had 2,118,362 registered legal entities with combined registered capital of 32.96 trillion baht. Of these, 1,019,431 remained active, accounting for 24.29 trillion baht in registered capital.
The service sector accounted for the largest number of active businesses, with 555,335 entities, followed by wholesale and retail trade with 334,514 and manufacturing with 129,582. Department of Business Development director-general Kittiwat Patchimnan said the figures indicated that Thai businesses were beginning to recover amid economic uncertainty. He cited risks from the global economy, geopolitical conflicts, energy prices and international gold prices.
The department advised business operators to manage costs and cash flow carefully, adopt technology and digital channels, differentiate products and services, and diversify markets to better withstand changing conditions.
