BANGKOK, Thailand – The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) has launched comprehensive measures to address severe traffic congestion at the Laem Chabang Port caused by a sudden surge in container volume.
Container volume at the port has increased by over 10 percent in the first five months of 2025. The PAT attributes this spike to exporters rushing shipments to the United States ahead of new import tariffs. This has resulted in an average of 15,000 trucks per day, with peaks of up to 20,000, overwhelming the port’s infrastructure.
Director of the PAT Kriengkrai Chaisiriwongsuk recently led a team to survey the area and has announced a series of actions. Immediate measures include allocating new land plots as waiting areas for trucks and coordinating with customs officials to allow for temporary off-site container storage. The port will also mandate 100 percent use of a truck queuing system by August.
Parallel measures involve preparing additional large land plots outside the customs fence to serve as further waiting areas for trucks before they enter the port.
For the long term, the PAT is developing a new master plan to expand infrastructure. It will also expedite the development of the Laem Chabang Port Phase 3 project, aiming for it to be operational by late 2027.
The Director affirmed that the PAT has no policy to charge additional fees to address the issue. He stated that the authority is committed to resolving the situation urgently and believes collaboration with all stakeholders is key to a sustainable solution. (NNT)
