Maritime technologies market in Thailand

Thailand’s maritime industry is a key pillar of its export-oriented economy and an important logistics hub in Southeast Asia. The Eastern Economic Corridor is centred around the ports of Laem Chabang and Map Ta Phut. Laem Chabang alone handles more than 60% of Thailand’s container traffic and supports projected sea trade volumes of approximately 305 million tonnes.

Despite these strengths, the sector continues to face structural challenges, including poorly planned private ports, weak hinterland connectivity, and navigation constraints along the Chao Phraya River.

In response, Thailand is investing heavily in port expansion, operational efficiency, rail connectivity, and smart port technologies, particularly at Laem Chabang. The country is also expanding its marine tourism strategy through the development of new deep-sea cruise ports in Koh Samui, Phuket, and Pattaya.

Thailand’s Maritime Transport Development Plan aims to modernize infrastructure and establish the country as an ASEAN logistics hub. Key projects include the third-phase expansion of Laem Chabang Port, which is expected to increase container handling capacity to 18 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) by 2029. 

The country plans to transform five major ports into smart, green hubs by 2030, connecting them to dry ports, and implementing a single-window platform.

In 2025, Thailand’s Port Authority announced plans to modernize Bangkok’s Klongtoey Port into a 375-hectare smart hub. It will expand beyond cargo services and partner with the private sector.  

A key component of this transformation is the Bangkok Logistics Park. The project will incorporate modern traffic management solutions, including dedicated truck parking and a “Truck Q” system to reduce congestion.

Thailand’s smart port and maritime logistics sector is marked by a dual-speed market: 

• advanced global operators compete in automation and digital transformation
• while domestic players dominate basic logistics and long-term public port contracts

Foreign competition is intense. 

• Chinese firms excel in cost-efficient hardware/software and scalable digital tools
• Japanese and Korean companies leverage relationships and durable equipment. 
• European, American, and Canadian technologies are valued for lifecycle support, data integrity, and longevity
• Norway and Scandinavia influence vessel management, energy efficiency, and maritime safety.

National logistics champions and conglomerates drive adoption of predictive analytics, internet-of-things (IoT) monitoring, and integrated supply chains, pressuring smaller ports to modernize. 

Thailand’s maritime sector favours partnership models that offer strong local responsiveness and integration capabilities. Established conglomerates and logistics leaders typically prefer suppliers that can work effectively within existing operational systems.

Key customer segments include:

• the Port Authority of Thailand 
• major terminal operators 
• large logistics groups 
• infrastructure consortia 

Canadian firms can strengthen their positioning by emphasizing:

• durability and reliability 
• interoperability with existing systems 
• strong after-sales support 

Successful case studies and reference sites are often the most effective way to build trust in the market. Early engagement and visibility within green-port and smart-port initiatives can also help position Canadian companies for larger, long-term infrastructure opportunities.

Thailand’s near-term opportunities are centred on stable automation systems, monitoring tools, and sustainability-focused solutions aligned with initiatives led by the Port Authority of Thailand.

Large operators are continuing to adopt:

• autonomous technologies
• fleet electrification
• digital port-community systems

This creates opportunities for Canadian technologies that emphasize reliability and cost-efficiency.

Medium-term opportunities are emerging in:

• maritime safety systems
• satellite-based monitoring
• integrated digital logistics platforms

These opportunities are expected to grow as national agencies invest in smart-pier prototypes and enhanced emergency-response systems.

Longer-term opportunities are tied to major infrastructure transformation projects. These projects will require:

• advanced engineering technologies
• port operations systems
• environmental monitoring solutions
• supply-chain integration tools

Thailand is a highly price‑competitive market. Companies should be aware that local buyers often benchmark solutions against low‑cost regional alternatives. 

Automation adoption in Thailand’s ports and logistics faces strong resistance, mainly from labor unions, high costs, and uneven digital literacy. While industrial sectors use robotics and automated guided vehicles (AGVs), service sectors remain largely manual. 

Regulatory gaps, slow government adaptation, and limited standards continue to constrain broader deployment across the sector.

• Thailand International Logistics Fair is an important annual logistics and supply chain event in Bangkok, typically held in August
• Thailand Marine & Offshore Expo is an annual international maritime and offshore industrial event held in the fall
• Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) is the region’s largest industry event, taking place every spring

For mor information about the maritime technology market in Thailand, contact bngkk-td@international.gc.ca.