Mr. Kriangkrai Chaiyasirivongsuk, Director of the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), announced plans to further develop Ranong Port into a key Andaman trade hub, enhancing its capacity to support Thailand’s ambitious Land Bridge project. He emphasized that Ranong Port plays a vital role in international trade due to its strategic location, serving as a gateway connecting the Andaman coast to South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and BIMSTEC member states.
Currently, Ranong Port has an annual capacity of around 78,000 TEUs. Between October 2024 and August 2025, the port handled approximately 6,300 TEUs, equivalent to 186,000 tons of cargo, with 235 vessel calls. For the fiscal year 2025, PAT expects throughput of 6,400 TEUs, a 140% increase year-on-year, alongside 196,000 tons of cargo, down 39% from last year. Despite a decline in bulk cargo volumes, largely due to reduced maize imports from Myanmar, exports of paper rolls, cement, sanitary ware, fertilizer, plastic pellets, and tires have shown growth. PAT also expects Ranong Port’s profit to rise to 5 million baht, up from around 300,000 baht in the previous year.
The increase in container volumes reflects shifting trade flows, with more shippers choosing Ranong Port amid Myanmar’s domestic challenges. In addition, Myanmar’s petroleum exploration concessions have led to a rise in offshore support vessels using Ranong Port’s facilities—further demonstrating the confidence of operators in the port’s potential.
Kriangkrai highlighted Ranong Port’s geographic advantage as Thailand’s Western Gateway to the Bay of Bengal and BIMSTEC markets. PAT has strengthened cooperation with regional partner ports in Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka through signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and Joint Working Group Meetings, which focus on knowledge exchange and collaborative port development.
The Thai government also supports the Ranong–BIMSTEC route as more than a port-to-port connection—it is a bridge linking Thailand’s economy to new South Asian opportunities. This will expand trade, investment, and strategic partnerships across the region.
To achieve this, PAT plans to modernize Ranong Port’s infrastructure and management systems to international standards. Upcoming upgrades include new cranes and handling equipment, improved warehouses and berths, and enhanced connectivity across road, rail, and air transport. These developments aim to reduce reliance on the Strait of Malacca, strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness in BIMSTEC and ASEAN markets, and position Ranong Port as a strategic logistics hub.
Looking ahead, the Land Bridge project—which will connect Chumphon Port on the Gulf of Thailand with a new deep-sea port at Ranong—will redefine Ranong Port’s role. Rather than serving as the main gateway, it will become a supporting port focusing on niche markets such as frozen goods, Thai-Myanmar border trade, and fast-track shipments. Ranong Port will also develop into a logistics base and distribution center, offering value-added warehousing services and attracting SMEs and local businesses.
PAT further plans to use Ranong Port as a sandbox for the Land Bridge project, testing multimodal transport integration, digital systems, customs procedures, and “Green Port” models to comply with future environmental standards. This pilot role will provide the foundation for scaling best practices to the new Land Bridge port, ensuring long-term success and sustainability.
Mr. Kriangkrai concluded that the Land Bridge project will not diminish Ranong Port’s role but instead strengthen it. While the new deep-sea port will accommodate large vessels of several thousand TEUs, Ranong Port will specialize in smaller ships and niche cargo. Together, both ports will complement one another, ensuring a balanced and resilient logistics system for Thailand.
Photos and news article from https://www.matichon.co.th/economy/news_5378904 (September 23rd, 2025)
