BANGKOK — The Thai Industrial Standards Office (TISI) has lifted the seizure on over 41,000 steel rebars belonging to Xin Ke Yuan Steel Company Limited after testing by the Iron and Steel Institute of Thailand confirmed the products met industry standards.
TISI confirmed that inspection results on a portion of Xin Ke Yuan’s steel rebars showed compliance with standards, leading to the decision to return tens of thousands of rebars to the manufacturer. The seizure was initially imposed following the collapse of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) building under construction in Bangkok during an earthquake in late March.
The incident prompted then-Industry Minister Ekkanat Promphan to launch an investigation, which initially indicated that steel rebars from Xin Ke Yuan Steel Company used in the construction project were substandard. TISI subsequently seized the batch for testing.
On October 23, Matichon reported that TISI issued documents lifting the seizure on 116 items totaling 41,635 rebars and 62 items totaling 24,685 rebars that were confiscated on April 2, 2025, and September 15, 2025, respectively. The products of 41,635 rebars were returned to Xin Ke Yuan Steel after testing samples showed compliance with standards. Testing was conducted by both the Iron and Steel Institute of Thailand and TISI.
That same day, Attawit Suwanpakdee, Chairman of the Industry Minister’s Advisory Board, posted a message questioning the timing of the seizure lift, noting: “Once the government changed, I moved my belongings out of the Ministry on Friday. By Monday, September 15, the seizure lift document was immediately signed. Importantly, these are large size-32 rebars used for high-rise construction, meaning SKY brand steel is about to return to market!”
The post drew widespread criticism, prompting TISI Secretary-General Ekaniti Romyanon to clarify that the agency did lift the seizure and return steel from Xin Ke Yuan Steel Company in accordance with government regulations. He added that substandard steel would continue to be processed according to legal procedures.
“It’s important to understand that when TISI seizes evidence—in this case, steel potentially connected to the OAG building collapse that could harm the public if allowed to circulate in the market—we must test it. If it meets standards, we return the evidence according to regulations. If it doesn’t meet standards, we proceed with prosecution,” Ekaniti said.
Previously, Industry Ministry officials inspected Xin Ke Yuan’s manufacturing facility after the Board of Investment temporarily revoked the company’s investment privileges in April 2025. The ministry also announced legal action on other significant matters beyond the steel quality, including , including illegal storage of 60,000 tons of red dust—a hazardous material—within the factory premises, and illegal transportation.
Evidence has been compiled for 1,016 charges against Xin Ke Yuan and related companies to be submitted to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).
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