Bangkok: Thanakorn Wangboonkhongchana, Minister of Industry, has provided an urgent clarification regarding the withdrawal of the seizure on steel from Xin Ke Yuan Steel Co., Ltd. He emphasized that the steel in question was not linked to the collapse of the Office of the Auditor General’s building. The Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) had already lifted the seizure on September 12, 2015, prior to Thanakorn assuming his ministerial role, as determined by the fact-finding committee.
According to Thai News Agency, Thanakorn explained that the TISI lifted the seizure on September 15, 2025, before his official appointment as Minister of Industry on September 19, 2025, and subsequent oath-taking on September 24, 2025. Thus, any decisions made before September 19, 2025, were under the purview of the previous Cabinet, and he was not involved in those actions.
The seizure, initially executed on January 9, 2025, followed a factory fire and explosion on December 18, 2024. It was a result of sampling conducted on December 19, 2024, and unrelated to the State Audit Office building collapse, as incorrectly circulated on social media. The investigation led to the recall of 44,325 steel bars from the market, with 2,690 failing to meet standards due to issues with chemical composition and quality control. These substandard bars were seized and led to legal proceedings. The remaining 41,635 bars, which met the standards, were released in two phases on September 12, 2025, and September 30, 2015.
The TISI’s inspection process ensures the seizure of only those products that meet the criteria, maintaining fairness for compliant businesses. The previously circulated figure of over 60,000 steel bars being withdrawn was incorrect; the accurate number was 44,325. The Ministry of Industry remains committed to eliminating illegal steel and substandard products while ensuring fairness for lawful operators, thereby bolstering industry confidence and public safety.
To ensure transparency, a committee will investigate the facts surrounding the incident. Ekniti Romyanon, Secretary-General of the TISI, stated that the release of 41,635 steel bars followed inspections by the Iron and Steel Institute of Thailand, confirming the steel met TIS standards. Despite some deformed bars failing to meet chemical composition standards, the release was justified based on subsequent inspections showing compliance.