In Port News 06/05/2015
We expect healthy growth across Thailand’s maritime shipping sector in 2015. While challenges from the volatile political situation – following the establishment of a military government in May 2014 – persist, the government has introduced a range of measures which should help boost the economy and reassure investors. Externally, the market for Thai exports is looking stronger, and continued investment into the maritime facilities will see growth continue over the longer term.
Headline Industry Data
* Gross tonnage at Laem Chabang, the country’s largest port, is set to rise by 6.0% to 76.55mn tonnes in 2015, and will average growth of 6.0% a year over our medium-term forecast period to 2019.
* Box handling at the same port will rise 4.9%, to 6.90mn twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2015, and will grow by an average of 5.8% over the medium term.
* At the port of Bangkok, BMI projects that tonnage will grow by 4.1% in 2015, to 22.33mn tonnes, with container handling set to grow by 1.0%, to 1.55mn TEUs.
* We expect the real value of foreign trade to grow by 4.0% in 2015, a strong rebound from a 2.4% contraction the year before. Imports will be up by 4.4%, while exports will grow by 4.5%.
