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Transport Ministry Upgrades Southern Thai Ports for Trade

Transport Ministry Upgrades Southern Thai Ports for Trade

Thansettakij•Economy•1h ago

Reader Briefing

Deputy Transport Minister Sanphet Bunyamanee announced upgrades to Ranong and Songkhla ports to enhance southern maritime logistics and trade with South and East Asia.

  • •Ranong Port successfully accepted a 5,725 gross ton cargo ship for the first time.
  • •Songkhla Port has installed two Ship to Shore (STS) cranes and is currently testing the system.
  • •The Ranong-Chittagong trade route connects Thailand with Bangladesh and BIMSTEC countries.
  • •Songkhla Port aims to increase annual cargo volume from 2 million to 4 million tons within 5-6 years.

Overview

  • •Sanphet Bunyamanee announced the successful capacity upgrade of Southern ports on both the Andaman and Gulf of Thailand sides.
  • •Ranong Port can now accommodate cargo ships of 5,725 gross tons and transport over 400 containers.
  • •Sanphet Bunyamanee inspected Ranong Port on June 12, 2026, instructing the Port Authority of Thailand to increase port capabilities.
  • •Sanphet Bunyamanee followed up on the Songkhla Port development project on August 30, 2026.
  • •The installation of two STS cranes at Songkhla Port allows the port to handle ships without their own cranes and facilitates direct exports of rubber and processed agricultural products to China, Korea, and Japan.
  • •Songkhla Port aims to increase container volume from 150,000 TEUs to 450,000 TEUs per year within 5-6 years.
  • •Songkhla Port aims to bring at least 50 percent of rubber exports currently going through Penang Port back to Songkhla Port.
  • •Ranong Port will organize the back-port area for container yards and warehouses, while Songkhla Port will continue testing STS cranes and dredging channels.

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Key Quotes

Sanphet Bunyamanee
"Today we see tangible success, both in receiving a large cargo ship in Ranong for the first time and the installation of STS cranes at Songkhla Port."
วันนี้เราเห็นผลสำเร็จที่จับต้องได้ ทั้งการรับเรือสินค้าขนาดใหญ่ที่ระนองเป็นครั้งแรก และการติดตั้งเครน STS ที่ท่าเรือสงขลา

Key Entities

Person

Sanphet Bunyamanee(สรรเพชญ บุญญามณี)
Deputy Minister of Transport who oversees the upgrading of southern ports.

Organization

Ministry of Transport(กระทรวงคมนาคม)ℹ️
The ministry responsible for upgrading the potential of southern ports.
Port Authority of Thailand(การท่าเรือแห่งประเทศไทย)ℹ️
The organization instructed to increase the capabilities and services of Ranong Port.
BIMSTECℹ️
A group of countries linked to Thailand through the Ranong-Chittagong trade route.

Place

Ranong Port(ท่าเรือระนอง)
A port on the Andaman side serving as a trade gateway to South Asia and BIMSTEC.
Songkhla Port(ท่าเรือสงขลา)
A port on the Gulf of Thailand side serving as an export gateway to East Asian markets.
Bangladesh(บังกลาเทศ)ℹ️
A country connected to Thailand via the Ranong-Chittagong trade route.
Penang Port(ท่าเรือปีนัง)
A foreign port currently used for exporting rubber that Songkhla Port aims to reclaim.
Chittagong(จิตตะกอง)ℹ️
A location in Bangladesh forming the other end of the Ranong-Chittagong trade route.

Policy

Ranong Gateway
A policy to push Ranong Port to be the trade gateway of the Andaman.