Due to its favorable position along important transport routes, Thailand has developed a number of modern ports, including one of the busiest and largest in the region, the Port of Laem Chabang. While Singapore has been the undisputed
, other countries in the region have caught up in recent years. The Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (LSCI), developed by UNCTAD, measures the degree of connectedness between nations and global shipping networks.
increased significantly between 2019 and 2023, an indication that the country is growing in importance for international shipping companies in the region.
Thailand’s major seaports
The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) is a public utility state enterprise that manages the operations of Thailand's major ports. The PAT is in charge of five seaports, the most significant of which is Laem Chabang Port. Each of the five ports has distinct features and essential infrastructure that connects Thailand's supply chain to the world economy. The second largest port is Bangkok Port, also known as Khlong Toei Port, situated on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. While Bangkok Port used to be Thailand’s largest and most important port, Laem Chabang overtook this place quickly after its completion in 1992, with
the number of vessel calls exceeding 11,000 in recent years. Located on the Mekong River's bank are the northern regional ports of Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong. They promote cross-border trade between Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and China. Although Ranong Port has a relatively low
container throughput, it has a geographically important location, being the only PAT port in the Indian Ocean. Besides the five PAT ports, Sriracha Harbor is the first and largest privately owned deep-sea port.
Challenges in Thailand’s maritime sector
A main concern in Thailand’s maritime sector is maritime regulation. Many private ports were constructed randomly, which led to an unorganized management structure, inadequate advanced port facilities, and poor hinterland connections with inland transportation. Additionally, the Chao Phraya River's depth restricts the quantity of cargo that ships can transport, and low tide causes delays in transit, leading to a shipping bottleneck at the port. This is why Thailand needs to keep expanding its port infrastructure to maintain the necessary logistics capacity to compete in the world market. The Phase 3 development project at Laem Chabang Port, which will increase its capacity to handle future demand growth, is a crucial component of this plan. To prepare for the rising volumes of cargo between Europe and Asia,
the Thai government has made long-term investments in the development and expansion of both metropolitan ports and ports in the Gulf of Thailand.
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