Sanphetsets policy to push Ranong Port as the Andaman trade gateway linking South Asia and BIMSTEC. The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) showcases a 55% increase in container throughput over seven months, accelerating infrastructure and service capacity enhancement.
Today (12 June 2026), Mr. Sanphet Boonyamanee, Deputy Minister of Transport, visited and gave operational policy guidance at Ranong Port in Ranong Province. He was welcomed by Mr. Kongkrit Chatmaleerat, Member of Parliament for Ranong Province; Mr. Rachan Meenoi, Governor of Ranong Province; and Second Lieutenant Ratakorn Khiewpaisan, Deputy Director of PAT's Finance and Organizational Strategy Division and acting Director of PAT, along with senior executives of the Port Authority of Thailand. They reported operational results and development plans for Ranong Port, which plays a key role in connecting trade along the Andaman Sea, supporting cargo transportation to South Asian countries, BIMSTEC member states, and major trade routes in the Indian Ocean.
Mr. Sanphet stated that Ranong Port is a strategic point for the Ministry of Transport to develop as the Andaman trade gateway, linking Thailand's logistics system to BIMSTEC countries and the South Asia region. This aligns with the government's policy to develop infrastructure to drive the national economy. Ranong Port has strong potential in both cargo transport and promoting water-based tourism. Therefore, its capacity must be rapidly developed to accommodate increasing future cargo volumes. Integration with other transport networks is essential to ensure seamless, continuous transportation and effectively reduce logistics costs.
Second Lieutenant Ratakorn Khiewpaisan, Deputy Director of PAT's Finance and Organizational Strategy Division and acting Director of PAT, said,"Ranong Port's strength lies in its location on the Andaman Sea coast,allowing direct transport connections from the Gulf of Thailand, upper southern region, and the country's economic zones to shipping routes in the Indian Ocean. The Port Authority of Thailand is therefore advancing development of infrastructure, services, and partnerships with partner ports to make Ranong Port a practical option for operators, shortening certain routes, enhancing transport flexibility, and creating new trade opportunities for the country.""
Currently, Ranong Port has two main piers: a multi-purpose pier 134 meters long that can accommodate cargo ships up to 500 gross tons, and a container pier 150 meters long that supports vessels up to 8,000 gross tons or no more than 12,000 deadweight tons. The port has an 8-meter deep navigation channel, 120 meters wide, stretching 28 kilometers. Facilities include warehouses, container yards, truck parking, and logistics activity areas, as well as equipment such as mobile harbor cranes, tractors, forklifts, and temperature-controlled container service points.
Regarding operational results for the first seven months of fiscal year 2026 (October 2025–April 2026), Ranong Port showed growth in all aspects compared to the same period last year, indicating expanding port usage. Container throughput increased to 7,000 TEUs (+55.56%), cargo volume rose to 106,000 tons (+7.07%), and vessel calls grew to 217 trips (+38.22%). Additionally, PAT has promoted marketing cooperation under MOUs with partner ports in Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka, involving continuous data exchange and joint meetings to expand trade opportunities, open new transport routes, and increase logistics options for Thai operators connecting the Andaman coast, Indian Ocean, and BIMSTEC markets more effectively.
PAT plans continuous development of Ranong Port's capabilities by increasing the number and efficiency of cargo handling equipment to enhance service readiness, safety, and capacity to handle growing cargo volumes in the future. This effort aims to establish Ranong Port concretely as a key strategic point for Thailand's trade and logistics on the Andaman coast.
Read news "Government Policy" More