Thailand Quadruples Export Currency Limits, Easing Constraints on Half Its Trade

Thailand's central bank raised the threshold for exporters to retain foreign proceeds abroad from $50,000 to $200,000 per shipment without time restrictions. This affects a massive slice of the economy: bills of lading under $200,000 accounted for over $100 billion in exports in 2018—nearly half Thailand's total. The shift reduces hedging costs for small and medium exporters, signaling Bangkok's push to strengthen competitiveness as regional investment scrutiny tightens.