Thailand business closures increased sharply during the first half of 2026 as rising operating costs, subdued consumer demand and intensifying competition forced more companies to cease operations, according to the Department of Business Development. A total of 7,024 businesses closed during the six-month period, an increase of 12.5% from a year earlier. Registered capital associated with those closures surged to THB98.9bn (USD3.02bn), up 224%, indicating that larger business