Import from Thailand: Payment Terms, L/C & Wire Guide 2026

Import from Thailand: Payment Terms, L/C & Wire Guide 2026

How to pay Thai suppliers safely in 2026: T/T wire, L/C at sight, D/P, escrow, and Alibaba Trade Assurance. Fraud red flags, THB vs USD, and Bangkok Bank.

Import from Thailand: Payment Terms, L/C & Wire Guide 2026

Getting payment right is how you avoid the two biggest importing disasters: (1) supplier disappears with your deposit, (2) goods shipped don't match spec and you have no recourse. Here's the 2026 playbook.

The 5 payment methods

1. T/T (Telegraphic Transfer / SWIFT wire) — 85% of trade

  • Direct bank wire, USD or THB
  • Standard structure: 30% deposit on PO, 70% balance against B/L copy (before original release)
  • Bank fee: USD 25-50 sending, USD 15-30 receiving
  • 1-2 business days settlement via correspondent bank

2. L/C at Sight (Letter of Credit)

  • Buyer's bank guarantees payment to seller upon compliant document presentation
  • Cost: 0.125-0.25% per quarter of L/C amount + amendment fees
  • Worth it above USD 100k first-time order or with high-risk countries
  • Common Thai banks: Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn (KBank), SCB, Krungthai

3. D/P (Documents against Payment)

  • Supplier ships, sends docs via bank; you pay to get docs to clear customs
  • Middle-ground trust; used for repeat buyers with medium exposure

4. Alibaba Trade Assurance

  • Escrow-like; Alibaba holds funds until you confirm receipt
  • Only covers Alibaba-listed suppliers and Alibaba-registered orders
  • Weakness: quality disputes often resolved 30/70 in supplier's favor. Not a substitute for PSI.

5. PayPal / Wise / Payoneer

  • OK under USD 3-5k (samples, small first orders)
  • PayPal fees 3-4.5% + FX markup 3-4%
  • Wise: 0.5-1% FX, best for USD/THB conversions
  • Suppliers often reject above USD 5k (they lose 4-5% on fees)

THB vs USD invoicing

  • 95% of exports invoiced in USD — global standard, hedges Thai supplier vs baht
  • THB invoicing requested by some SMBs to lock local price; supplier usually adds 1-2% for FX risk
  • EUR/GBP invoicing possible with major factories; usually 0.5-1% premium

Baht was 34-36/USD range through 2024-2025, expected 33-37 in 2026. Low volatility means USD invoicing has minimal downside.

Red flags — do NOT wire if you see these

  1. Personal bank account (individual name, not registered company)
  2. Hong Kong / offshore account for a "Thai" supplier — 90% scam signal
  3. Sudden account change on second invoice ("our old account is under audit")
  4. Pressure to wire before you can verify with the factory's known bank
  5. Bank name doesn't match SWIFT country (e.g. Thai supplier, Cambodia bank)
  6. Beneficiary address in a shopping mall or serviced office — verify against DBD registration

The safe wire workflow

  1. Get PI (Proforma Invoice) with full beneficiary bank details, SWIFT code, company name matching Thai DBD.
  2. Verify DBD via dbd.go.th — company name, director, address, registered capital.
  3. Cross-check beneficiary name = DBD registered name (Co., Ltd. or Public Co., Ltd. suffix).
  4. Call the factory landline (not mobile) at the number on their website. Confirm bank details verbally.
  5. Send small test wire (USD 100-500) for first-time supplier; confirm receipt before full deposit.
  6. Keep SWIFT MT103 confirmation for every payment.

When to use L/C

  • First-time order above USD 50k-100k with an unproven supplier
  • High-value machinery, capital equipment (USD 200k+)
  • Countries with foreign exchange controls (some LatAm, Africa buyers)
  • When buyer requires bank-guaranteed docs for their financing

Don't use L/C for: sub-USD 30k orders (fees eat margin), repeat orders with verified suppliers, urgent shipments (L/C processing adds 1-2 weeks).

Escrow alternatives

  • Alibaba Trade Assurance: OK for Alibaba-native suppliers, weak on QC disputes
  • Escrow.com: legitimate US escrow, USD 22-500 fee per transaction, adds 3-5 days
  • TUSKO managed escrow: for enrolled clients, TUSKO holds deposit until PSI passes

FAQ

Q: Is 30/70 T/T safe? A: Yes IF you (1) verified DBD, (2) confirmed bank details by phone, (3) booked pre-shipment inspection, (4) hold 70% until B/L copy received. Never wire 100% upfront to a new supplier.

Q: My supplier wants 50% deposit — is this normal? A: For custom tooling, small MOQ, or specialty materials (electronics, precision molds): yes. For commodity goods (food, textile, standard hardware): no, push back to 30%.

Q: Can I dispute a wire transfer? A: Almost never once settled (1-2 days after send). SWIFT wires are final. Bank recall requests succeed <10% of the time. This is why verification matters.

Q: What's BAHTNET vs SWIFT? A: BAHTNET is Thailand's domestic RTGS (for THB inside Thailand). SWIFT is international. Your USD wire hits SWIFT → correspondent USD bank → Thai supplier's bank's USD nostro → converted or held in USD.

Q: Does TUSKO handle payments? A: For enrolled clients, we can operate as a paymaster (buyer wires to TUSKO Thailand, we pay factory in THB after milestones). This removes fraud risk and improves negotiation leverage.

Talk to us about safe payment structuring · Related: Complete import guide · Freight guide