Thailand Plans Laem Chabang Port Expansion as AI and EV Investment Drives Trade

Thailand plans to expand Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi Province as strong investment in artificial intelligence and electric vehicles drives a surge in foreign trade. The port's third-phase expansion is expected to add capacity for approximately 7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), according to a report published on November 2, 2026.

Laem Chabang is Thailand's largest deep-sea port and an important logistics hub for Southeast Asia. The planned capacity increase is intended to support growing import and export volumes and the movement of goods through regional supply chains.

For companies moving goods through the port, the distinction between planned capacity and capacity available for use matters: the expected increase does not itself establish when additional shipments can be handled. The effect on freight flows will depend on the expansion's progress and how trade volumes develop.