Thailand Accelerates Laem Chabang Port Phase 3 Development

On July 20, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, accompanied by Transport Ministry officials, visited the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) to implement policies aimed at developing Thai ports as a gateway for economic opportunity. The government is pursuing the "MOT New Chapter" strategy to modernize transport systems while reducing public expenses, improving safety, stimulating the economy, promoting clean energy, and building competitive infrastructure for the global stage.

Water transport and port systems are crucial mechanisms for linking all transport modes and reducing Thailand's logistics costs. Currently, PAT controls over 85% of the country's deep-water port market share, and Laem Chabang Port ranks 18th globally for container traffic in 2025. In fiscal year 2568, PAT reported total revenue exceeding 16.756 billion baht with net profit over 7.096 billion baht.

Pipat announced plans to upgrade Bangkok Port, a key economic hub in central Bangkok, to become a world-class gateway port offering benefits across economics, tourism, international conferences, culture, and entertainment. For Laem Chabang Port Phase 3, the government is accelerating construction to handle larger cargo vessels, expand shipping capacity, and support growth in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). As of July 10, 2569, offshore construction has advanced 98.39% while dock facilities and road infrastructure are 22.84% complete, targeting the F1 berth opening by 2574.

Pipat also directed PAT to work with the State Railway of Thailand to develop a Single Rail Transfer Operator (SRTO) center, seamlessly linking rail, road, and water transport systems to reduce national logistics costs and promote modal shift from trucks to rail and water transport.