BANGKOK: Thailand’s Port Authority is exploring a further expansion of Laem Chabang port, the nation’s biggest deep-sea gateway, to handle increasing trade of products from automobiles to electronics and petrochemicals.
“We’re already handling cargo volumes that exceed the port’s capacity, and we’ve received complaints about congestion and delays in moving goods,” Decha Peukpattanaruk, chairman of Port Authority of Thailand, said in an interview.
“We need to plan for further expansion as we expect cargo volumes to increase significantly in the coming years.”
The state agency is studying a potential fourth phase of development at the Chon Buri province port to add yet more capacity beyond an ongoing third-phase expansion, he said.
The agency is assessing the potential future size of the port, investment requirements and a timeline, he said.
The port, about 120 kms south-east of Bangkok, is a key harbour for cargo ships transporting manufactured goods from Thailand’s industrial heartland.
It is a centerpiece of the Eastern Economic Corridor, where Thailand has attracted investment in industries, including electric vehicles, electronics, data centres and other advanced manufacturing.
The South-East Asian nation’s exports and imports rose more than expected in September, propelled by the global demand for electronic components and machinery tied to artificial intelligence and data centres.
In the fiscal year ended September 2025, cargo volume at Laem Chabang jumped to a record of 10.2 million 20-foot equivalent units of containers from 9.5 million units a year earlier, according to the agency’s data.
In the eight months through May 2026, the port handled 7.2 million units, the data showed.
The Port Authority plans to invite bids for new operators of the first and second phases of Laem Chabang after previous concessions expired several years ago, Decha said.
Existing operators, including Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd, the port’s largest cargo handler, have been allowed to continue operating the facilities on a temporary basis, the Port Authority chairman said.
A venture involving Gulf Development Pcl and PTT Pcl is developing the 31 billion baht (US$918mil) third-phase Laem Chabang expansion to increase container-handling capacity.
The project is part of the government’s effort to upgrade transport infrastructure in the Eastern Economic Corridor.
A fourth phase would help accommodate longer-term growth in cargo volumes and investment in Thailand’s eastern provinces, Decha said.
The authority will also assess future demand before determining the project’s final scope, investment requirements and development model.
Thailand has experienced a surge in investments in recent years, particularly in data centres, electronics and electric vehicle manufacturing as well as in other advanced industries.
The nation’s expanding manufacturing capacity is expected to generate additional imports of machinery and raw materials while supporting future exports, adding further pressure on the country’s logistics infrastructure, according to Decha. — Bloomberg
