​​​​1. Import cargo :

Thailand's principal imports are capital equipment, raw materials and intermediate products.

According to the Controlling importation and exportation of Goods Act of B.E.2522, the Ministry of Commerce has the authority to designate classes of goods as being subject to import controls in the form of license requirements.

Import licenses are usually required only for goods considered to be in direct competition with domestic products.

Such as certain kinds of food, metals and minerals, textiles, apparel, paper products, plywood, fiberboard and some household articles. There are currently 45 classes of controlled goods.

The importation of the goods as listed by Ministry of Commerce requires an application for an import license together with a supplier order, confirmation of the order and an invoice. An import license will usually be issued for a certain period, rather than for a single shipment. There are in addition, several goods which are not controls under other laws and regulations. In such cases, the approval or consent of the relevant authorities must be obtained.

The importing goods to Thailand is also subject to Exchange controls

Import transactions require exchange control approval. The procedures are different based on the payment method. Most payments for imports may be approved by authorized banks upon submission of documents such as invoices, collection bills and import permits. A certificate of payment from an authorized bank or the bank of Thailand might be required to the Customs Department for imported goods clearance. This certificate of payment is required to check every payment for imports, which result in goods being brought into the country.

Customs Declaration Time Frame :

24 hours prior to vessel arrival (hardcopy).

Customer Information :

Shipper, Consignee, Notify Party - Full name and address

Cargo Details :

- Piece count, weight, measurement, commodity, package, status mode, cargo marks.  

- Shipping Mark :

• Shipping Marks or No Shipping Marks (N/M) are to be shown in all related documents for all shipments import to Thailand  

• 'Blank' Shipping Mark is prohibited by Thai Customs 

• "As per attached sheet" is not allowed to be captured in mark. Require to capture partials marks details with ‘as per attached sheet’ and send attached sheet file to otlcsvib@oocl.com and otldocib@oocl.com 

• For ‘Photo’ mark – require to capture word ‘Picture’ in mark and send photo file to otlcsvib@oocl.com and otldocib@oocl.com 

• 'No Shipping Mark' should be specified on B/L for Tank Container or Awkward Cargo

- Full unit description is required. Following unit descriptions are not acceptable by Thai Customs :

• Container

• Loose

• IBC

• Specified cargo weights per item and total weight units except KGS

• Mixed packaging units under the same pallet

Container Details :

• Container no., seal no., type and quantity in each container.

• Status of movement (CY/CY, CY/CFS, etc.)

Port of Discharge/Place of Delivery :
- Manifest is broken down by port of discharge and place of delivery, together with separated summary cover. Customs at discharge port must physically compare cargo with the manifest before releasing to each place of delivery.

- ‘Bangkok’ can be applicable for all place of deliveries, but must state port of discharge. eg. ‘Laem Chabang’ if the place of delivery is at the discharge port.

- Local Charges : Nil statutory charges.

Other Manifest Details :

- Broken down inbound container list for all container nos. (including empty), as well as the manifest, must be provided in terms of bond cargo declaration.

Special Local Handling :
- Cargo Intransit/Transhipment :

• Dry Cargo - With effective vessel ETA 13-Nov-17, Thai customs regulation prohibited intransit cargo formalities at ICDs as the new law stipulates that e-transits must be made at Customshouse only. The customs office at ICDs does not have the status of Customhouse. Therefore, Intransit/Transhipment cargoes are allowed at Laem Chabang Ports and Bangkok Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), only.

• Reefer Cargo - With effective vessel ETA 15-Apr-15, Thai International Container Terminal Association has announced that Bangkok Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), Laem Chabang Ports, River Ports (TPT, BMTP) and ICD facilities to suspend all reefers intransit cargoes to 3rd country until further notice. 

• Cargoes Intransit/Transhipment to 3rd country other than Thailand are prohibited by THi customs (due to transit formality) to load on barge via LCB terminal to river ports BKK01 (PAT), BKK04 (BMT) and BKK09 (TPT).

• B/L for Dry Cargo Intransit cargo:-

• According to THI customs regulation and manifest submission, Cargo Intransit/Transshipment to the Third Country must state clause on B/L cargo description as "Cargo in transit to ( city name / country name ) via Laem Chabang Port  or Bangkok Port (PAT) by ( Mode of Transport ) of which is under ( Consignee/Notify party Name ) own costs and risk."

• Cargo Intransit/Transshipment Must declare whom to “C/O agent in Thailand" in Consignee field to avoid cargo abandonment and customs regulation compliance.

• Cargo Intransit/Transshipment to third country Must show full and complete name / address details of the third country on Consignee field.

• Cargo Intransit/Transshipment to third country Must show full and complete name / address details of THI representatives on Notify Party field.

- Transhipments :

• Final destination port must be shown.

- Partial Shipments:

• Correct split B/L data must be provided to OTL, especially correct vsl/voy, container number, packages, gross weight & notify party

Customs Penalty :

- Port Authority Penalty :

• All amendment after submission 50USD/Time

• Late submission for D.G. cargo 10,000-50,000 THB

• Late submission of manifest (Should be process) 1,300-10,000 THB

2. Export cargo

Thailand's chief exports are rice, sugar, corn and other agricultural products. Certain items, principally food staples, such as rice and sugar, are reserved by law to ensure that domestic needs are met first before exports can be permitted.

Therefore, certain kinds of goods require an export license according to the Export Standard Act (No.2) of B.E.2522, adminstered by the commodity standards office of the Ministry of Commerce. Together with some other laws, this Act aims to control the quality of companies. In addition, rice is subject to an export tax at rate prescribed by the Ministry of Commerce.

3. Restriction for Dangerous goods

Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) regulation for dangerous goods (DG) restriction in the port area as follows: DG which can not be loaded/discharged in port or stowed on board during vsl stay in port.

• Class 1 (Explosive)
• Class 7 (Radioactive material)

Only DG anchorage area acceptable with special permission. Load/discharge can be done after/before vessel alongside port. DG which can be loaded/discharged in port separate into 2 groups as follows:

• Class A: DG can be loaded/discharged. Shipper/consignee must arrange direct delivery to load to the vessel or arrange direct dray it out from the port area. (Store in port strictly prohibited). Shipper/consignee have to clear all documents/taxes/handling/storage with CUSTOM and PAT before loading/discharging
  
  
• Class 2.3 (Poisonous Gas) all commodities
• Class 3.1 (Flammable Liquids) all commodities
• Class 3.2 (Flammable Liquids) all commodities
• Class 4.1 (Flammable Solids) some commodities as follows:

• Class 4.2 (Spontaneously combustible) some as follows:

• Class 4.3 (Dangerous when wet) all commodities.
• Class 5.1 (Oxidizing Agents) all commodities.
• Class 5.2 (Organic Peroxides) all commodities.
• Class 6.1 (Poisons) all commodities.
• Class 6.2 (Infectious Substances) all commodities.
• Class 8 (Corrosive) some commodities as follows:

• Class B: DG which can be discharged and stored inside port area with freeday storage 1 day and maximum PAT allow store inside port only 5 days.
  
  Commodities : All commodities except the above mentioned DG.

  ​

   ​ROAD LIMITATIONS​
  

   
  

  Container Size/Type	Maximum Gross Weight  (KGs)	Cargo Weight Allowed (KGs)
  20 GP (20 ft General Purpose)	24,000	21,000
  ​20 GP (20 ft General Purpose)	30,480	27,000
  40 GP (40 ft General Purpose)	30,480	26,000
  40 HQ (40 ft High Cube)	30,480	26,000
  45 HQ (45 ft High Cube)	30,480	25,000
  20 RF (20 ft Reefer)	30,480	25,000
  40 RQ (40 ft Reefer High Cube)	34,500	25,000

   

   

  • Maximum road's weight limitation allowed to truck from Lat krabang or Bangkok to Laem Chabang is 45,000 KGs including weight of Payload (Cargo), Container tare, Trailer, Chassis and Genset (for reefer container).
  • OOCL will not liable to any fines related to overweight.​
    
  
  

For further inquiries please contact marbkk@oocl.com