Nonthaburi: The Ministry of Commerce is implementing stricter regulations on the sale of black clothing following a significant increase in purchases by citizens mourning the recent passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother. The Ministry assures the public that there is an adequate supply of black clothing and that prices remain stable.
According to Thai News Agency, the Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has intensified price monitoring to prevent any potential price hikes or hoarding. Mr. Witthayakorn Maneenet, Director-General of DIT, conducted inspections in retail outlets across the Nonthaburi region, confirming that pricing remains consistent, with prices ranging from tens to hundreds of baht. Retailers are generally complying with regulations by displaying price tags clearly.
In the Tha Non area, the owner of “B Uniform” reported that despite the surge in demand over the weekend, they have maintained sufficient stock levels. To accommodate the increased demand, production capacity is being ramped up by 10%. While some black fabrics have experienced a slight price increase of 5-10 baht, the latest batch maintains the previous pricing.
Mr. Witthayakorn also noted that manufacturers and wholesalers have adequate inventory and that officials are conducting stringent checks in major wholesale markets such as Pratunam, Bobae, Sampeng, and Pahurat to curb price manipulation. Two complaints about price discrepancies based on purchase volume have been investigated and found consistent with standard trade practices. Failure to display prices can incur fines up to 10,000 baht, while those exploiting the situation by excessively raising prices risk imprisonment of up to one year or fines reaching 140,000 baht. The public can report grievances through the 1569 hotline, operational round the clock.