The Director of the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) acknowledged the possibility of delays in completing Laem Chabang Port Phase 3 as planned. The key issue is whether the sea reclamation land can be handed over to concessionaire GPC by July 2026. If not, the original timeline—opening in 2028—could be pushed back to 2030. He also revealed that logistics indicators for Q1 this year, including ship calls, container throughput, and net profit, continue to grow, with net profit increasing nearly 5%.
Mr. Kriangkrai Chaisiriwongsuk, Director of the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT). He provided an update on the progress of Laem Chabang Port Phase 3 development, stating that marine construction work in Phase 1 is about 89% complete and remains on track for completion in 2028. However, the project faces risks of delay due to issues with delivering the land for sea reclamation. If the land cannot be handed over to GPC, the concessionaire, by July 2026, the opening schedule may be postponed, with operations possibly starting in 2030.
Laem Chabang Port Phase 3 is a major infrastructure project under the country’s development strategy and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) special development zone. The Ministry of Transport and related agencies are pushing hard to expedite the project’s tangible outcomes to create economic opportunities, enhance competitiveness, and support sustainable long-term national growth.
The development of Laem Chabang Port will help ease pressure on Bangkok Port (Khlong Toei), which faces limitations in water depth and vessel size. Currently, Laem Chabang Ports Phase 1 and 2 can handle over 11 million TEUs combined, while Bangkok Port accommodates about 1.34 million TEUs. The Ministry of Transport continues to develop ports nationwide to elevate Thailand as ASEAN’s new economic gateway, under the policy “Transport for Thailand’s Opportunities,” aiming to establish the country as the region’s logistics hub.
Mr. Kriangkrai added that overall, PAT’s Q1 2026 performance shows ongoing expansion in logistics and port trade compared to the same period last year. Total ship calls reached 3,844, up 5.55%; total cargo throughput was 32.32 million tonnes, up 6.82%; and container throughput hit 3.05 million TEUs, increasing 10.65%. Net profit was approximately 1.8 billion baht, up 4.80%.
Laem Chabang Port, Thailand’s main port, recorded 2,735 ship calls, a 7.63% increase; cargo throughput of 27.80 million tonnes, up 9.26%; and container throughput of 2.73 million TEUs, up 12.28%. Growth was especially notable in general cargo and containerized goods, rising 9.46%, reflecting recovery in industry, international trade, and a revitalized logistics flow.
Meanwhile, Bangkok Port’s ship service volume was similar to last year, with a slight 0.73% increase in ship calls due to a 7.40% growth in coastal vessels. However, total cargo and container throughput slightly declined due to structural space constraints and competition in transport routes. Nevertheless, Bangkok Port remains crucial for coastal shipping and domestic logistics connectivity.
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