Bangkok – Thai gold traders have implemented an unprecedented shift in pricing strategy, widening the gap between buy and sell prices for gold bars to 200 baht, effective February 2, 2026. The move, announced today by the Gold Traders Association, reflects growing concerns over market volatility and the impact of rapid-fire transactions facilitated by modern technology. This adjustment marks the first change to the spread in at least two decades, as gold shops grapple with increasingly unpredictable global price swings.
Thailand’s gold traders have widened the price differential between buying and selling gold bars to 200 baht, a move unprecedented in recent history, effective February 2, 2026. The decision, announced today, February 3, aims to mitigate risks for businesses amid significant price volatility and the increasing speed of transactions driven by technological advancements.
Jitti Tangsitpakdee, President of the Gold Traders Association, revealed the decision following discussions with wholesalers, retailers, online service providers, and storefront operators to address growing risk management concerns. The move marks a substantial shift in how gold is traded in Thailand, a key market for the precious metal.
The association’s meeting resulted in a consensus to increase the spread between the purchase and sale price of gold bars to 200 baht, up from the previous 100 baht. This change went into effect on February 2, 2026.
Rapid Gold Price Fluctuations Drive Change
Tangsitpakdee explained that the primary driver for this adjustment is the extreme volatility of global gold prices and the frequency of price changes. “Sometimes, prices can change within as little as five minutes, with fluctuations of 300-400 baht per time,” he stated.
This volatility, coupled with the behavior of modern investors who utilize technology to access price announcements via mobile phones and execute trades rapidly, has created challenges for traditional gold shops. These shops struggle to adjust price displays quickly enough to reflect market movements.
Jitti Tangsitpakdee, President of the Gold Traders Association
“Nowadays, people check gold prices on their phones, see the association’s prices, and buy or sell immediately. This causes significant losses for gold shops because prices can move 200-300 baht at a time,” Tangsitpakdee added.
A First in Thai Gold Trading History
Tangsitpakdee emphasized that increasing the price differential from 100 baht to 200 baht is a historic event in the Thai gold trade, with no precedent in at least the past 20-30 years.
“The spread has never been changed, even when gold prices were around 20,000 baht. We tried to endure, but the current situation changes so rapidly. Some days, prices change more than 70 times, which businesses can no longer handle,” he said.
While some participants in the meeting proposed increasing the spread to 400 baht to fully cover potential risks, the final decision settled at 200 baht, considered a more appropriate level to navigate the current volatility without unduly burdening consumers.
Future Adjustments Possible if Gold Reaches 100,000 Baht
Looking ahead, Tangsitpakdee indicated that this measure is a response to the current market conditions. If gold prices fall below 50,000 baht, the association may consider reverting to the original spread.
Conversely, if gold prices surge to 100,000 baht, the association may need to consider increasing the spread to 300-400 baht, depending on market conditions. However, for now, the 200 baht spread remains in effect to align with market dynamics and avoid excessive burdens on consumers.
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