Bangkok port shipping means using Bangkok Port at Klong Toey (also spelt Khlong Toei), the Port Authority of Thailand's river port inside the city on the Chao Phraya. It takes only ships up to 8.2 m draft and 172 m long, so cargo from Dubai arrives on feeder services after transshipment, not on mainline ships. This guide covers the quays, vessel limits, when Klong Toey beats Laem Chabang, and how to ship there from the UAE. We ship both ways: from Dubai to Bangkok Port and from Bangkok to Dubai.
Bangkok Port at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official name | Bangkok Port (Klong Toey / Khlong Toei Port) |
| Port code | THBKK (some systems also list "Bangkok PAT", THPAT) |
| Operator | Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), a state enterprise under the Ministry of Transport |
| Location | East bank of the Chao Phraya River, Khlong Toei District, Bangkok |
| Port area | Over 3.6 sq km, with jurisdiction over 66 km of riverfront |
| Maximum vessel size | 8.2 m draft, 172 m length, 12,000 DWT |
| Pilotage | Compulsory river pilot; at least three days' notice before the pilot station |
| Main quays | East Quay: 8 berths, 1,528 m. West Quay: 10 berths, 1,660 m |
| Container volume | About 1.28 million TEU in fiscal 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025) |
| Cargo types | Containers, general cargo, Ro-Ro, bulk, chemicals, petroleum products, gas |
| Nearest inland depot | Lat Krabang ICD, about 30 km away |
| Import VAT | 7% on CIF value plus duty and excise, collected by Thai Customs |
| Shipping to Dubai | Export declaration in Thai Customs e-Export by the exporter or its broker; arrival at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah |
Where is Bangkok Port and how does cargo reach it?
Bangkok Port sits on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River in Khlong Toei District, close to central Bangkok. Ships reach it from the Gulf of Thailand by sailing up a dredged river channel with a compulsory river pilot. The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), set up under the Port Authority of Thailand Act 1951, runs the port. The first phase opened in 1947.
The city location is the port's main selling point. A container discharged at Klong Toey is already inside Bangkok, so the truck leg to a warehouse in the city or in the eastern suburbs is short. Compare that with Laem Chabang on the east coast, where every box needs a long road or rail leg into the capital.
The river is also the port's main limit. Draft, length and tonnage caps keep large ships out, so only feeder and regional vessels call. Your cargo from the Gulf will be transshipped at a hub onto a feeder, or discharged at Laem Chabang instead.
What size of ship can reach Bangkok Port?
Vessel limits decide whether your service can call at Klong Toey at all. Published figures put the container berth limit at 8.2 m draft and 172 m length, with access limited to ships of about 12,000 DWT.
| Vessel type | Length limit | Draft limit |
|---|---|---|
| Container and Ro-Ro | 172 m | 8.2 m |
| Chemical tankers | 172 m | 8.0 m |
| Crude, products and gas | 172 m | 7.6 m |
Sources: Wikipedia (citing PAT) and Findaport. Ships must also give the port at least three days' notice before arriving at the pilot station, a step Laem Chabang does not have.
A decision rule: if your booking shows a mainline vessel name for the last leg, it is not going to Klong Toey. Check the final vessel and the port of discharge on the booking confirmation, not just the city name "Bangkok".
Which quays and terminals does Bangkok Port have?
Bangkok Port is a set of quays and mooring points along the river. Containers are handled mainly at the East Quay, which has two container terminals running 24 hours a day. General cargo uses the West Quay. Smaller ships and barges use dolphins and mooring buoys mid-river.
| Berth group | Berths | Length | Main use |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Quay | 8 | 1,528 m | Container terminals 1 and 2 |
| West Quay | 10 | 1,660 m | Conventional and general cargo |
| Dolphins, Khlong Toei | 36 | 1,400 m | Mid-stream and barge work |
| Dolphins, Hua Sua | 25 | 1,520 m | Mid-stream and barge work |
| Mooring buoys, Sathu Pradit | 5 | 1,580 m | Ships working cargo at buoys |
Equipment and storage
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Rail-mounted gantry cranes | 14 (32-40 t) |
| Rubber-tyred gantry cranes | 36 (30-40 t) |
| Top loaders | 35 (40 t) |
| Mobile cranes | 7 at 50 t, 3 at 10 t |
| Forklifts | 223 |
| Container terminal 1 area | 9.9 ha |
| Container terminal 2 area | 4.9 ha |
| Open stuffing yard | 2,208 TEU |
| Empty container yard | 8,520 TEU |
The port also has warehouses for inbound and outbound cargo, a bonded warehouse and a dangerous goods warehouse. Note that heavy pieces above the mobile crane limits need ship's gear or a floating crane, so plan lifts before booking.
How much cargo does Bangkok Port handle?
Bangkok Port handled about 1.28 million TEU in PAT's fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), according to a summary of PAT figures. That is roughly one eighth of Laem Chabang's volume. In fiscal 2016 the port handled 1.5 million TEU and 3,067 vessel calls, with full container loads making up 82% of boxes and LCL 15%.
So volume has slipped as more lines moved to Laem Chabang, but the port still sees regular feeder calls. Wikipedia notes it once handled almost all of Thailand's imports before Laem Chabang opened in the 1990s.
One time-sensitive point: in July 2026 Thailand's transport minister reportedly ordered a study into phasing out cargo operations at Bangkok Port and moving them to Laem Chabang. No timeline or decision has been published, and the port keeps working normally. If you plan long-term contracts through Klong Toey, check the status before you commit.
Bangkok Port or Laem Chabang: which should you use?
Most international services from the UAE discharge at Laem Chabang. Klong Toey makes sense in a narrower set of cases.
| Situation | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Consignee in central Bangkok, service calls Klong Toey | Bangkok Port | Short truck leg, no 100 km-plus road haul |
| Consignee in the Eastern Seaboard (Chonburi, Rayong) | Laem Chabang | Port is next to the industrial estates |
| Heavy or out-of-gauge cargo | Laem Chabang | Deeper berths, bigger ships and cranes |
| Dangerous goods on a mainline service | Laem Chabang | Avoids an extra feeder that must also accept the DG |
| Cargo for eastern Bangkok near Suvarnabhumi | Compare both, plus Lat Krabang ICD | ICD clearance may beat either port |
| Fastest sea transit from the Gulf | Usually Laem Chabang | Fewer feeder connections |
Your bill of lading decides the port of discharge. If you need Klong Toey, ask at booking whether the service actually delivers there, and on which feeder.
Should you clear at Bangkok Port or at Lat Krabang ICD?
Lat Krabang Inland Container Depot sits in eastern Bangkok, about 30 km from Bangkok Port, 110 km from Laem Chabang and 10 km from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thai Customs has an office at the ICD, so a box can move there under bond and clear close to the consignee.
Some carriers deliver Bangkok-area cargo to Lat Krabang rather than to the river port, and ESCO runs container rail between the ICD and its Laem Chabang terminal. If your carrier quotes "Bangkok" as the destination, ask whether that means Klong Toey, Lat Krabang ICD or Laem Chabang with onward trucking. The cost, free time and clearance office all change with the answer.
| Point of clearance | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok Port (Klong Toey) | City-centre consignees on feeder services | Fewer services, vessel limits |
| Lat Krabang ICD | Eastern Bangkok, airport area | Extra rail or truck leg from the port |
| Laem Chabang | Eastern Seaboard, heavy cargo | Long road leg into Bangkok |
FCL and LCL shipping to the Klong Toey port
For full container loads, Klong Toey works well when a feeder service calls there and your consignee is in the city. The box is lifted off at the East Quay and can be trucked out the same day after clearance. Use 20ft containers for dense cargo and 40ft or high cube for light, bulky goods.
For LCL, the port has warehouses for inbound cargo, but consolidators from the Gulf often deconsolidate at Laem Chabang or Lat Krabang instead. Ask where the CFS is before you book, because that is where your importer collects the goods. Our article on FCL vs LCL explains when sharing a box saves money.
We book the space and plan the box through our sea freight service, including the transshipment hub and the feeder leg into Bangkok.
Breakbulk and out-of-gauge cargo at Bangkok Port
The West Quay handles conventional general cargo, and Findaport lists breakbulk and bulk ships up to 32,256 DWT. The port's heaviest shore lifts listed are 50 t mobile cranes, and the river limits ship size. For heavy machinery or long pieces, Laem Chabang is usually the better port.
If you still need Klong Toey for a project piece close to the city, confirm the berth, lifting gear and the truck route from the quay before the cargo leaves the UAE. Our guide to flat rack, open top and out-of-gauge cargo covers equipment choice.
Dangerous goods at Bangkok Port
Bangkok Port has a dedicated dangerous goods warehouse, and it lists chemical tankers and gas carriers among the ships it handles. Containerised DG still needs acceptance from the carrier on every leg, including the feeder into the river, and a feeder operator may restrict some IMDG classes.
On our side we prepare the DG declaration, check the SDS, UN number, packing group and segregation, and get carrier approval before sailing. The Thai importer must hold any permit the product needs, for example for hazardous substances. See our dangerous goods shipping service for how we plan DG exports from the UAE.
Customs at Bangkok Port: the short version
Thai Customs clears cargo at Bangkok Port under the same national rules as Laem Chabang, which our Laem Chabang guide covers in full. For Klong Toey, these are the points to know:
- The Thai importer, or its customs broker, files the import declaration and pays duty and VAT before release.
- Import duty depends on the HS code in the Thai customs tariff.
- Import VAT is 7% of CIF price plus import duty plus excise and other fees, collected by Customs whether or not the importer is VAT-registered. The 7% rate has been extended to 30 September 2027.
- There is no UAE-Thailand trade agreement in force yet. CEPA talks were concluded in October 2026, but the agreement still has to be signed and ratified.
| Restricted goods | Permit from |
|---|---|
| Food, medicine, cosmetics, supplements | Food and Drug Administration (FDA) |
| Plants and plant parts | Department of Agriculture |
| Live animals and carcasses | Department of Livestock Development |
| Vehicle parts | Ministry of Industry |
| Alcohol and tobacco | Excise Department |
| Radio and telecom equipment | NBTC |
| Weapons and explosives | Ministry of Interior |
| Antiques and Buddha images | Fine Arts Department |
The permit must be presented during customs formalities, so get it before the cargo sails. In the UAE, we handle export clearance at Jebel Ali or your loading port, and we work with the consignee's Thai clearing agent on the arrival side.
How to ship from Dubai to Bangkok Port, step by step
- Agree the Incoterm and who pays Bangkok terminal charges.
- Check that the Thai importer has any permit the goods need.
- Send us the HS code, weight, volume and cargo type, and tell us the consignee's address in Bangkok.
- We check which services deliver to Klong Toey, Lat Krabang or Laem Chabang, and compare the cost to the door.
- We book space, arrange trucking to the UAE port, the export declaration and the VGM.
- Your shipper issues the commercial invoice and packing list, and we send the draft bill of lading for checking.
- The cargo sails to the hub and transfers to the feeder for Bangkok.
- The importer's broker files the declaration and pays duty and VAT.
- The importer collects the delivery order and trucks the box out within free time.
[AMIR-FACT: whether we book cargo to Bangkok Port (Klong Toey) direct on the bill of lading or via Laem Chabang/Lat Krabang, the hub and carriers we use, and our real Jebel Ali to Bangkok transit in 2026]
How to ship from Bangkok Port to Dubai
We also handle the other direction: shipping from Bangkok to Dubai, with arrival at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah port. We book the space with the carrier and run the UAE side. The Thai export papers stay with the shipper or its Thai agent.
The Thai export side
- Export declaration. Thai Customs says goods may not be loaded for export unless they have been entered in the Customs system and approved. Most declarations go through the e-Export system: the exporter or its customs broker sends the export declaration as an ebXML message to e-Customs.
- Checks. The system validates the data, issues a goods declaration number and sorts the shipment into green line or red line. A red line shipment needs the export declaration, the invoice, an export licence if one applies and any other papers Customs asks for.
- Port choice. Feeder services from Klong Toey connect to mainline ships at a hub, and some cargo for Dubai loads at Laem Chabang instead. We confirm the loading port at booking.
- Pickup. The shipper or its trucker delivers the box to the terminal, or to Lat Krabang ICD, before the cut-off.
The UAE import side
For cargo landing at Jebel Ali, the import declaration goes to Dubai Customs with the commercial invoice, the packing list, the bill of lading, a certificate of origin and any permit needed for restricted goods. Customs duty is 5% of the CIF value for most goods, with 50% on alcohol and 100% on cigarettes. Import VAT is 5%, and a VAT-registered importer can account for it on its VAT return. There is no UAE-Thailand trade agreement in force yet, so Thai goods pay the normal UAE rate.
- Send us the shipper's details in Bangkok, the cargo, the HS code, the Incoterm and the UAE delivery address.
- We book space with a carrier from Klong Toey or Laem Chabang and send the booking and cut-offs to the shipper.
- The shipper or its trucker picks up the empty, stuffs it and delivers the box to the terminal before the cut-off.
- The shipper or its Thai customs broker files the export declaration in e-Export.
- We check the draft bill of lading against the invoice and packing list before it is issued.
- We file the UAE customs declaration before the vessel arrives.
- We arrange payment of the duty and VAT and collect the delivery order from the line.
- We truck the box to your site and return the empty inside the free time.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we actually use from Bangkok to Jebel Ali/Khalifa/Sharjah and our real transit days in this direction]
Published transit indications from the UAE
Aggregator data shows how long the trip can take. Fluent Cargo, which builds estimates from carrier schedules, lists:
| Route | Estimated time | Transfers | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea: Fujairah (AEFJR) to Bangkok (THBKK) | About 25 days | 1 transfer | Every 2-4 weeks |
| Air: Dubai (DXB) to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) | About 6.5 hours | Direct | Several flights a day |
Sea figures are planning numbers. Real transit depends on the hub connection and feeder schedule. Add clearance and trucking to get your door date.
When air cargo makes more sense
Bangkok is one of the easiest air lanes from Dubai. Passenger flights run several times a day, and Emirates SkyCargo added a weekly freighter to Suvarnabhumi in October 2025. For spare parts, samples and urgent goods, compare air with a three to four week sea transit. See our air cargo service for options.
Free time and demurrage at Bangkok Port
Free time is set by the carrier, and storage by the terminal. Ask for both in writing when you book, especially if the box will move on to Lat Krabang. The usual cause of extra days is a missing permit or a name mismatch between the bill of lading and the importer. Our article on demurrage and detention explains how these costs build up.
What drives the cost of shipping to Bangkok Port?
- Ocean freight to the hub and the feeder leg into the river.
- Terminal handling at Klong Toey, usually for the consignee's account.
- DG, reefer or out-of-gauge surcharges.
- Duty, excise and 7% VAT on the import value.
- Storage and demurrage if clearance is slow.
- Trucking within Bangkok, often cheaper than the road leg from Laem Chabang.
We do not publish fixed rates. Send us the details for a quote that compares Klong Toey with the alternatives.
Checklist before you ship to Bangkok Port
- Service confirmed to discharge at Klong Toey, not only "Bangkok".
- Feeder vessel fits the 8.2 m draft and 172 m length limits.
- Importer's permits ready for restricted goods.
- Invoice, packing list and bill of lading match.
- DG approval from every carrier on the route.
- Free time and storage terms in writing.
- Truck booked for the city delivery.
Common mistakes
- Assuming "Bangkok" on a quote means Klong Toey, when the box is actually going to Laem Chabang or Lat Krabang.
- Booking heavy or long cargo into a river port with 50 t shore cranes.
- Not checking that the feeder line accepts the DG class.
- Shipping restricted goods before the Thai permit is issued.
- Expecting UAE-Thailand CEPA duty rates before the agreement is in force.
- Signing long-term volume deals through Klong Toey without checking the port's future.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bangkok Port the same as Klong Toey?
Yes. Bangkok Port is often called Klong Toey or Khlong Toei Port after the district where it sits. It is the Port Authority of Thailand's river port in the city, separate from Laem Chabang.
What is the port code for Bangkok Port?
The UN/LOCODE most systems use is THBKK. Some booking tools also list Bangkok PAT as THPAT, so confirm the code on your booking.
What size of ship can call at Bangkok Port?
Ships up to about 172 m long, 8.2 m draft and 12,000 DWT. Large mainline container ships cannot reach the river port.
Can I ship a container from Dubai directly to Bangkok Port?
Not on a single ship in most cases. Cargo from the Gulf usually transships at a hub and reaches Klong Toey on a feeder, or is discharged at Laem Chabang.
How many containers does Bangkok Port handle?
About 1.28 million TEU in PAT's fiscal year 2025, roughly one eighth of Laem Chabang's volume.
Is Bangkok Port closing?
No decision has been made. In July 2026 a study into moving cargo operations to Laem Chabang was reportedly ordered, but the port operates normally.
Can dangerous goods go through Bangkok Port?
Yes. The port has a dangerous goods warehouse, but every carrier on the route, including the feeder, must accept the IMDG class.
What is import VAT in Thailand?
7% of CIF value plus duty and excise, collected by Thai Customs at import. The rate is extended to 30 September 2027.
Can you ship cargo from Bangkok to Dubai?
Yes. The exporter or its Thai customs broker files the export declaration in e-Export. We book the space, file the UAE declaration, arrange payment of the 5% duty and 5% VAT, and deliver from Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah.
Get a quote for Bangkok port shipping
Send us your cargo details and we will compare Klong Toey, Lat Krabang and Laem Chabang for your delivery address. Use our freight rate inquiry form or contact our team. You can also read more about our Dubai freight forwarding team and how we load at Jebel Ali Port.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Bangkok Port (location, berths, equipment, storage, vessel limits, history)
- Wikipedia: Port Authority of Thailand (PAT Act 1951, port area, FY2016 throughput)
- Swift Cargo: Laem Chabang vs Bangkok Port (vessel limits, notice period, FY2025 volume, July 2026 study)
- Findaport: Port of Bangkok (size limits by vessel type)
- Ship4wd: Container ports in Thailand (East Quay terminals, warehouses, DG warehouse)
- Cogoport: Port of Bangkok THBKK
- Seabay: Bangkok PAT THPAT
- ESCO: Lat Krabang ICD (distances, customs office, rail)
- Thai Customs Department: Restricted and prohibited items
- Revenue Department of Thailand: Value added tax
- Nation Thailand: 7% VAT extended to September 2027 (27 July 2026)
- Khaleej Times: UAE, Thailand complete CEPA talks (8 October 2026)
- Fluent Cargo: Dubai to Bangkok (published transit indications)
- Dubai Media Office: Emirates SkyCargo adds Bangkok freighter (31 October 2025)
- Thai Customs: Export procedures (e-Export, green and red line, documents)
- Dubai Customs: Submit customs declaration (documents)
- UAE Government portal: Customs duty (5% of CIF, alcohol 50%, cigarettes 100%)
- Federal Tax Authority: VAT guide (5% rate, import VAT)
Reviewed: 10 November 2026