Thailand: freight forwarding for imports and exports
by air or sea
Thailand is one of Southeast Asia’s important industrial and trading economies. Despite periods of economic and political change, it has developed substantial manufacturing and international supply-chain connections. A major centre of activity is the metropolitan region around Bangkok with its concentration of population, commerce and transport infrastructure.
Transport beyond the Bangkok metropolitan area
Sea, Air, Transport & Service works with local partners in the Thai capital’s region. The Port of Bangkok and the wider port network support maritime connections, while the metropolitan region is also an important international aviation hub. We can assess suitable sea and air freight options for transport to and from Thailand. Our services extend beyond greater Bangkok: we can coordinate collection or delivery for other regions through suitable gateways and local connections.
Our support for your imports and exports to and from Thailand extends beyond carriage to handling, documentation and customs coordination. Local partners contribute their knowledge of Thai procedures and operating requirements. This is one of the benefits of our international partner network. We can also assist with international removals to or from Thailand, with arrangements tailored to the goods, route and delivery needs.
Sea, Air, Transport & Service: support for your shipment
Contact us for information about transport for your Thai business activities or an international removal. You can reach us using the enquiry form, by email or by telephone. We will review your requirements and can prepare an individual quotation when the necessary shipment details are available.
Thailand: historical economic figures
- Thailand’s GDP was reported at US$380.5 billion in 2014, with a population of around 70 million in the earlier overview;
- per-capita income was reported at US$5,550 in 2014. Its relative position described in the earlier overview is historical, not a current international ranking;
- foreign trade has an important role in the economy; the foreign-trade ratio was reported at 123.7% in 2013;
- the overview identified petroleum, electronics and machinery as major imports, and electronics, food and vehicles as major exports;
- its list of major trading partners included the United States, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia;
- German exports to Thailand amounted to €3.9 billion in 2013, with imports of €4.3 billion. These figures are historical context rather than a current assessment of Germany’s relative importance;
- the stock of German direct investment was reported at €2.5 billion in 2013.
Selected airports serving Thailand
| Airport / seaport | IATA code / UN/LOCODE | City |
| Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi Airport | BKK | Bangkok |
| Phuket Airport | HKT | Phuket |
01. Need a quotation?
Benefit from our experience with transport to and from Thailand.
Our partner network supports an individual plan for your goods and delivery requirements.
02. What do you need?
Thailand: your freight forwarder for imports & exports
Thailand is an important Southeast Asian trading partner for Germany and the EU. As a production location for automotive and electronics industries, it is integrated into international supply chains. For imports from Thailand, relevant products include electronic components, machinery, automotive parts, rubber products and textiles. For exports to Thailand, machinery, industrial equipment, vehicle parts and chemicals are important. SATS Group coordinates these cargo flows according to the agreed transport requirements.
Transport options for Thailand
- Sea freight: A main gateway is the deep-sea Port of Laem Chabang near Bangkok, alongside Bangkok Port (Khlong Toei) and the industrial port of Map Ta Phut. The existing overview gives an indicative sea transit from Hamburg or Bremerhaven of around four to six weeks for suitable FCL or LCL services. The current routing, transshipment, Red Sea/Suez operating conditions and carrier schedule must be confirmed before booking.
- Air freight: A principal gateway is Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) for urgent, high-value or time-sensitive shipments, subject to cargo acceptance and available capacity.
- Multimodal arrangements: Where suitable, sea-air combinations and road collection and delivery stages provide options for different shipment schedules.
Customs & documents
Shipments between the EU and Thailand require the applicable ordinary customs clearance procedures. An EU–Thailand free trade agreement is still under negotiation and is not an applicable basis for bilateral tariff preferences. Classification, actual origin and current tariff treatment must be checked for each product. A complete commercial invoice, packing list, required origin information and any product-specific import documents need to be prepared. Our team coordinates the relevant customs process.
For the Germany/Europe–Thailand route, SATS brings sea freight, air freight and customs support together to coordinate your imports and exports.