Hormuz crisis revives Thailand’s land bridge plan but business case still lacking

AdvertisementThailandThis Week in AsiaEconomicsHormuz crisis revives Thailand’s land bridge plan but business case still lacking

While the plan to bypass the Malacca Strait is popular with Anutin’s government, economists and environmentalists say it is not realistic

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Aidan JonesPublished: 1:08pm, 29 Apr 2026Thailand’s vision for a land bridge splits opinion: some see it as a crucial new Asian trade route for a global economy held hostage by geography, while others view it as an expensive and environmentally ruinous distraction for a kingdom with plenty already on its plate.

But to its backers, the proposed road and rail corridor, bookended by ports on the Gulf of Thailand and another 90km (56 miles) away on the Andaman Sea, to bypass a vital chokepoint, has never felt more urgent.

Iran’s virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz has exposed Asia’s dependence on faraway events and flagged the risks of the throttling of the Malacca Strait, the narrow channel linking East Asia to the Middle East.

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The Thai government says the land bridge will provide a fresh route to keep goods and fuel flowing – while knitting the kingdom more tightly into global supply chains.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said his government would push for a special law over the coming months to secure the financing for the scheme, which would cut across Chumphon and Ranong provinces.AdvertisementAdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x