BOI Promotion & Company Setup at Laem Chabang Port (EEC)
BOI applications for free-zone operations, port-side manufacturing and export-led logistics at Thailand's main deep-sea container port — combined with BOI promoted-company status where eligible.
Laem Chabang: where BOI meets the port
Laem Chabang sits inside Si Racha district and is Thailand's primary deep-sea container port. It is also one of Asia's main automotive export gateways and the natural address for export-oriented BOI projects that need bonded logistics and customs adjacency.
BOI applications at Laem Chabang typically combine BOI privileges with Free Trade Zone status. The two regimes coexist: BOI privileges follow the BOI's rules; Free Zone status follows Customs rules. Together they form one of the most efficient export setups in Southeast Asia.
Belaws supports Laem Chabang BOI applicants on the BOI side — eligibility, application, pitch, company registration — and coordinates with the Customs and Port Authority of Thailand offices on Free Zone status, bonded warehousing and port-side operations.
Six key BOI clusters around Laem Chabang
Each Laem Chabang sub-area sits in a different relationship to the port and the customs perimeter — that relationship shapes both BOI category fit and the operating regime.
Laem Chabang Free Trade Zone (FTZ)
Bonded zone inside the port perimeter for manufacturing, processing, packaging and export-oriented operations. Goods enter and leave under customs control with deferred or exempt duties.
Port terminals A, B, C, D & Phase 3
Container terminals operated by various concessionaires under the Port Authority of Thailand. Phase 3 is the ongoing capacity expansion eastward.
Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard (Laem Chabang interface)
Private estate plots immediately above the port, used by tenants needing customs adjacency without locking into the Free Zone.
Bowin / Pinthong supplier belt
Tier-1 and tier-2 supplier clusters that feed automotive exports through Laem Chabang — sitting between the port and Amata City Chonburi.
Off-port bonded warehousing
Bonded warehousing and consolidation plots inland from the port, used by exporters and importers managing inventories under customs control.
Logistics & freight-forwarder cluster
Cluster of freight-forwarder offices, third-party logistics providers, container yards and depot operators around the port roads.
Which BOI category fits a Laem Chabang project?
Laem Chabang BOI applications cluster around export-oriented manufacturing, port-side processing and logistics infrastructure.
Export-oriented manufacturing
Manufacturing for export with high value-add: assembly, processing, packaging — often combining BOI privileges with Free Zone status.
Automotive export logistics
Vehicle export operations, parts and components export logistics, including supporting services for the OEM export volumes processed through Laem Chabang.
Bonded logistics & 3PL
Third-party logistics, bonded warehousing, freight forwarding and customs-bonded operations linked to Laem Chabang container traffic.
Port-side processing & packaging
Processing, repackaging, labelling and value-added port-side activities for both imports and exports.
How to qualify for BOI promotion at Laem Chabang
A Laem Chabang application typically runs two parallel workstreams: the BOI promotion file and the Free Zone licence application.
- Activity checkMap the activity to a BOI category. Export-oriented manufacturing, port-side processing and bonded logistics each sit in distinct BOI tracks.
- Site & regime selectionDecide whether the operation should be inside the Free Trade Zone, on the Hemaraj interface plots above the port or in the inland bonded warehouse belt.
- Application filingSubmit the BOI file through e-BOI in parallel with the Free Zone licence application to the Port Authority of Thailand and Customs.
- BOI pitchPitch the project to the BOI committee in Bangkok. Export-led pitches emphasise volume commitments, value-add narrative and customs integration.
- Approval & companyReceive the BOI approval, incorporate the promoted entity, open the bank account and transfer the registered capital.
- FBC, FTZ licence & opsForeign Business Certificate, Free Zone licence, customs registrations, BOI visas and the start of BOI annual reporting.
BOI mistakes to avoid for Laem Chabang projects
Do
- Decide between FTZ status and a non-FTZ site early — the regime shapes the rest
- Coordinate the BOI application with the Port Authority and Customs from day one
- Document export volume commitments and value-add for the BOI pitch
- Plan inbound machinery imports under both BOI and FTZ rules
- Use the BOI's One-Stop Service Centre for engineer visas and work permits
- Track customs documentation discipline from operational day one
Don't
- Treat BOI privileges and Free Zone status as if they were the same thing
- Apply for BOI on a plot that cannot host the planned port-side activity
- Underestimate the documentation discipline customs expects under FTZ
- Skip the FBC step for foreign-majority operations
- Confuse Free Zone status with tax-free trading — duties are deferred, not waived
- Forget the foreign-to-Thai employee ratio attached to the activity
Why Laem Chabang is its own BOI category
Laem Chabang is the EEC's only major port location. It is administratively inside Si Racha, but its BOI profile is distinct — dominated by export-oriented manufacturing, customs-bonded logistics and port-side processing rather than the supplier belt and digital cluster that define Si Racha town.
Investors that need port-side operations look here. Investors that just need EEC supplier proximity usually base further inland in Si Racha or Chonburi, with logistics to Laem Chabang.
Belaws BOI coverage at Laem Chabang
Each Laem Chabang sub-area maps to a different relationship with the port and customs.
Our five BOI services for Laem Chabang projects
Eligibility & regime mapping
Three-business-day written assessment covering BOI category fit AND the question of FTZ status, off-port bonded or non-bonded operation.
Application preparation & filing
Document compilation, BOI form completion, financial projections and e-BOI submission tailored to an export-oriented file.
BOI pitch preparation
Mock pitch sessions with briefing on export volume commitments and customs integration narrative.
Promoted company setup
Incorporation, capital structuring, corporate bank account opening and registered capital transfer assistance.
FTZ licence & customs interface
Coordination with the Port Authority of Thailand and the Customs office for Free Zone licensing, bonded warehouse registration and ongoing customs operations.
Our four-step BOI process
- Eligibility assessmentThree business days for a written assessment covering BOI category and FTZ/bonded regime options.
- Application preparation & filingOne to two weeks to prepare and file the BOI; the FTZ application runs in parallel.
- BOI pitchOne to two weeks after filing, you pitch the project to the BOI committee in Bangkok.
- Approval & company registrationAround three weeks for promoted company registration; two more for the Foreign Business Certificate. FTZ licence timing varies.
Location
Continue across the EEC
Explore the rest of the Belaws EEC silo or jump back to the overview.
FAQ
Does BOI status replace the need for a Free Zone licence at Laem Chabang?
No. BOI privileges and Free Zone status are two separate regimes. BOI grants tax exemptions, foreign ownership and other privileges defined by the BOI Act. Free Zone status defines a customs perimeter where duties and VAT can be deferred or exempted under Customs rules. Most export-oriented operations at Laem Chabang use both together.
Can an auto-parts exporter combine BOI and Free Zone status?
Yes — this is the most common setup at Laem Chabang. The BOI promotes the manufacturing activity; the Free Zone status enables duty-deferred or duty-exempt handling of imported components and finished exports. Coordination between the two applications is part of Belaws's standard scope.
Is bonded warehousing outside the FTZ also BOI-eligible?
Selected logistics-services BOI categories can include bonded warehousing and third-party logistics activities, subject to the BOI's published criteria. Off-port bonded warehouses operate under Customs rules without the FTZ perimeter.
Does the Port Authority of Thailand approve the BOI side as well?
No. The BOI approves the promoted-company side. The Port Authority of Thailand and the Customs office handle the Free Zone licence, port access, terminal operations and customs procedures. The two approvals run in parallel.
What is the minimum capital for a Laem Chabang BOI?
From THB 1,000,000 for most promoted activities. Higher minimums apply to some logistics-services and manufacturing categories. The exact figure is confirmed during the eligibility assessment.
How long does a Laem Chabang BOI take end to end?
On the BOI side, around eight to twelve weeks for the BOI promotion plus company registration and Foreign Business Certificate. The Free Zone licence timing is determined by the Port Authority of Thailand and the Customs office and runs in parallel.
Do BOI visas cover engineers operating inside the FTZ?
Yes — BOI's One-Stop Service Centre handles visas and work permits for BOI-promoted companies under a streamlined regime regardless of whether the day-to-day operations sit inside the Free Trade Zone.
Can a foreign-owned exporter own land at Laem Chabang?
BOI promotion grants the right to own land for the promoted activity, as an exception to Thailand's foreign land ownership rules. Inside the Free Trade Zone perimeter, the regime is different — most operators use leased plots from the Port Authority or terminal concessionaires.
Ready to start your BOI application?
Free consultation with a Belaws lawyer. Reply within one business day.
Book a free consultation