Latest news with #Theeraj
Bangkok Post
11-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Cambodia row hits local fruit growers
TRAT: The closure of the Ban Had Lek permanent border checkpoint to Cambodia in Trat province has resulted in economic losses exceeding 10 billion baht over the past two weeks, officials say. The government has been stepping up efforts to support affected fruit farmers to help mitigate any disruptions to their export businesses. Theeraj Athanavanich, director-general of the Customs Department, yesterday led an inspection of the closed border point where over 90% of local shops have closed due to the halt in cross-border trade. Maritime imports of Cambodian fishery products have also stopped completely. Mr Theeraj said total exports to Cambodia, normally worth about 20 billion baht per month, have fallen, resulting in losses exceeding 10 billion baht since the border closed 14 days ago. He said the Customs Department is operating under national security directives enforced by the National Security Council, which monitors the situation closely. Wipa Sunate, president of the Trat Chamber of Commerce, reported daily losses of about 80 million baht caused by trucks unable to cross the checkpoint. She noted wider impacts on motorcycle taxi drivers, street vendors, and small traders who rely on border traffic for their livelihoods. Ms Wipa urged the targeted reopening of border areas unaffected by the conflict to ease people's economic hardship. She asked the government to allow expired-duty goods stuck in containers to be sold domestically and extend Free Zone storage limits to prevent container seizures that cost exporters significant fees. In response to the export disruption, the government has initiated measures to assist fruit growers in the eastern provinces. Deputy government spokesman Anukul Pruksanusak said over 10,000 tonnes of fruit have been redirected to domestic markets through partnerships with wet markets, retailers, and airlines. CP All Plc, operator of 7-Eleven stores, has begun purchasing mangosteen affected by the border closure, distributing 70T at 8,200 outlets nationwide at 40 baht per kg, he said. The government plans to expand purchases to northern longan and southern mangosteen. The Commerce Ministry has also coordinated with the military to provide labour for harvesting, particularly longan, while the Corrections Department is deploying well-behaved inmates to assist with labour shortages. Officials aim to expand exports to new markets such as India, the Middle East, and additional regions in China to reduce domestic oversupply and stabilise prices. The Thai Chamber of Commerce is working with agencies on short- and long-term strategies to link fruit producers with processing facilities and improve market access, he said. The government urged farmers to remain confident as plans are in place to maximise sales and mitigate the impact of export barriers as the harvest season progresses.
The Star
16-05-2025
- The Star
US e-waste intercepted at Bangkok port
Thai officials said they have seized 238 tonnes of illegally imported electronic waste from the United States at the port of Bangkok, one of the biggest lots they've found this year. The waste, which came in 10 large containers, was declared as mixed metal scrap but turned out to be circuit boards mixed in a huge pile of metal scrap, said Theeraj Athanavanich, director-general of the Customs Department. It was found in a random inspection on Tuesday. A UN report last year said electronic waste is piling up worldwide. Some 62 million tonnes of electronic waste was generated in 2022 and that figure is on track to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030. It added that only 22% of the waste was properly collected and recycled in 2022, and the quantity is expected to fall to 20% by the end of the decade due to higher consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles and inadequate management infrastructure. Theeraj said Thai authorities are looking to press charges including for falsely declaring imported goods, illegally importing electronic waste and planning to return the waste to its country of origin. 'It's important that we take action on this kind of goods,' he said. 'There are environmental impacts that are dangerous to the people, especially communities around factories that might import these things for processing, then recycling.' Thailand passed a ban on the import of a range of e-waste products in 2020. The Cabinet in February approved an expanded list of the banned waste. Sunthron Kewsawang, deputy director-general of the Department of Industrial Works, said officials suspected two factories in Samut Sakhon province are involved in importing the waste. — AP
Nahar Net
15-05-2025
- Business
- Nahar Net
Thai officials seize over 200 tons of electronic waste illegally imported from the US
Thai officials said Wednesday they seized 238 tons of illegally imported electronic waste from the United States at the port of Bangkok, one of the biggest lots they've found this year. The waste, which came in 10 large containers, was declared as mixed metal scrap but turned out to be circuit boards mixed in a huge pile of metal scrap, said Theeraj Athanavanich, director-general of the Customs Department. It was found Tuesday in a random inspection. A U.N. report last year said electronic waste is piling up worldwide. Some 62 million tons of electronic waste was generated in 2022 and that figure is on track to reach 82 million tons by 2030, the report said. It said only 22% of the waste was properly collected and recycled in 2022 and that quantity is expected to fall to 20% by the end of the decade due to higher consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles, and inadequate management infrastructure. Theeraj said Thai authorities are looking to press charges including falsely declaring imported goods, illegally importing electronic waste and planning to return the waste to its country of origin. "It's important that we take action on this kind of goods," he said. "There are environmental impacts that are dangerous to the people, especially communities around factories that might import these things for processing, then recycling." Electronic waste creates huge health hazards. Many components are laden with lead and mercury, cadmium and other toxins. Recyclers are after gold, silver, palladium and copper, mainly from printed circuit boards, but lax controls mean that facilities often burn plastics to release encased copper and use unsafe methods to extract precious metals. Thailand passed a ban on the import of a range of electronic waste products in 2020. The Cabinet in February approved an expanded list of the banned waste. Sunthron Kewsawang, deputy director-general of the Department of Industrial Works, said officials suspected at least two factories in Samut Sakhon province, which borders Bangkok, are involved in importing the waste. In January, the Customs Department said it seized 256 tons of illegally imported electronic waste from Japan and Hong Kong at a port in eastern Thailand.
National Observer
15-05-2025
- National Observer
Thai officials seize more than 200 tons of electronic waste illegally imported from the US
Thai officials said Wednesday they seized 238 tons of illegally imported electronic waste from the United States at the port of Bangkok, one of the biggest lots they've found this year. The waste, which came in 10 large containers, was declared as mixed metal scrap but turned out to be circuit boards mixed in a huge pile of metal scrap, said Theeraj Athanavanich, director-general of the Customs Department. It was found Tuesday in a random inspection. A U.N. report last year said electronic waste is piling up worldwide. Some 62 million tons of electronic waste was generated in 2022 and that figure is on track to reach 82 million tons by 2030, the report said. It said only 22% of the waste was properly collected and recycled in 2022 and that quantity is expected to fall to 20% by the end of the decade due to higher consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles, and inadequate management infrastructure. Theeraj said Thai authorities are looking to press charges including falsely declaring imported goods, illegally importing electronic waste and planning to return the waste to its country of origin. 'It's important that we take action on this kind of goods,' he said. 'There are environmental impacts that are dangerous to the people, especially communities around factories that might import these things for processing, then recycling.' Electronic waste creates huge health hazards. Many components are laden with lead and mercury, cadmium and other toxins. Recyclers are after gold, silver, palladium and copper, mainly from printed circuit boards, but lax controls mean that facilities often burn plastics to release encased copper and use unsafe methods to extract precious metals. Thailand passed a ban on the import of a range of electronic waste products in 2020. The Cabinet in February approved an expanded list of the banned waste. Sunthron Kewsawang, deputy director-general of the Department of Industrial Works, said officials suspected at least two factories in Samut Sakhon province, which borders Bangkok, are involved in importing the waste.
The Star
15-05-2025
- The Star
Thai officials seize over 200 tonnes of electronic waste illegally imported from the US
The waste, which came in 10 large containers, was declared as mixed metal scrap but turned out to be circuit boards mixed in a huge pile of metal scrap. - The Nation/ANN BANGKOK: Thai officials said Wednesday (May 14) they seized 238 tonnes of illegally imported electronic waste from the United States at the port of Bangkok, one of the biggest lots they've found this year. The waste, which came in 10 large containers, was declared as mixed metal scrap but turned out to be circuit boards mixed in a huge pile of metal scrap, said Theeraj Athanavanich, director-general of the Customs Department. It was found Tuesday in a random inspection. A UN report last year said electronic waste is piling up worldwide. Some 62 million tonnes of electronic waste was generated in 2022 and that figure is on track to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030, the report said. It said only 22% of the waste was properly collected and recycled in 2022 and that quantity is expected to fall to 20% by the end of the decade due to higher consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles, and inadequate management infrastructure. Theeraj said Thai authorities are looking to press charges including falsely declaring imported goods, illegally importing electronic waste and planning to return the waste to its country of origin. "It's important that we take action on this kind of goods,' he said. "There are environmental impacts that are dangerous to the people, especially communities around factories that might import these things for processing, then recycling.' Electronic waste creates huge health hazards. Many components are laden with lead and mercury, cadmium and other toxins. Recyclers are after gold, silver, palladium and copper, mainly from printed circuit boards, but lax controls mean that facilities often burn plastics to release encased copper and use unsafe methods to extract precious metals. Thailand passed a ban on the import of a range of electronic waste products in 2020. The Cabinet in February approved an expanded list of the banned waste. Sunthron Kewsawang, deputy director-general of the Department of Industrial Works, said officials suspected at least two factories in Samut Sakhon province, which borders Bangkok, are involved in importing the waste. In January, the Customs Department said it seized 256 tonnes of illegally imported electronic waste from Japan and Hong Kong at a port in eastern Thailand. - AP
