Thailand Adopts Polymer for Highest Use Note

The Bank of Thailand will launch a new 20 baht note on 24 March, marking the transition to polymer of the country’s most widely used denomination, which accounts for 30% of all Thai banknotes in circulation.

This is not the first time Thailand has used polymer. In 1996, it issued a 50 baht polymer note, but this was short-lived, and the denomination reverted to paper in the 2001 series. The current series was introduced in 2018, with portraits of HM Rama King Rama X, who succeed to the throne in 2016, and new security features.

The design of the new polymer note retains the familiar themes from the current paper note for ease of public recognition. But it contains two secure transparent windows, as well as an enhanced portrait.

The supply of the polymer is being split between De La Rue’s SAFEGUARD® and CCL’s Guardian™.

The Bank prints about 1.8 billion banknotes each year, of which 600 million are 20 bahts, the lowest denomination in the country’s five note family. As of 2021, the value of 20 bahts in circulation was 47 billion baht.

The life cycle of the new polymer banknote is expected to be five years, compared with 2-3 years for the paper version. Its introduction is in line with the Bank’s sustainability policy, who commented that ‘the durability of polymer banknotes will reduce the need to print new notes to replace damaged ones over the long term, which is better for the environment’.