Thailand to Korea Freight: Ports and Landed Cost (2026)
Thailand to Korea is a short, high-frequency lane with plenty of direct services. Cost control is about container utilisation, port choice and Incoterms - not about squeezing the freight rate.
Transit times from Laem Chabang
| Destination | Typical transit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Busan | 7-11 days | Most services, main hub, best inland connectivity |
| Incheon | 9-14 days | Convenient for Seoul metropolitan distribution |
| Gwangyang | 8-12 days | Industrial and petrochemical base |
| Pyeongtaek | 10-14 days | Automotive and Gyeonggi region |
| Bangkok Port (Klong Toey) to Busan | 10-14 days | Smaller vessels, suits city-based factories |
Add 3-5 days at origin for booking, loading and documentation. Air freight Bangkok to Incheon is 1-3 days.
Indicative 2026 rates
| Mode | Typical range (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft FCL | 400-850 | Excludes THC and local charges |
| 40ft / 40HC FCL | 600-1,250 | Best value above roughly 28 CBM |
| LCL | 30-55 per CBM | Watch destination deconsolidation charges |
| Air freight | 3.00-5.50 per kg | Bangkok to Incheon |
Treat these as planning benchmarks and get live quotes for the shipping month.
Landed cost worked example
40HC of plastic housewares, FOB Laem Chabang USD 50,000, AKFTA duty 0%, delivered to Gyeonggi via Busan:
| Line | USD |
|---|---|
| FOB goods | 50,000 |
| Ocean freight and origin charges | 1,050 |
| Marine insurance at 0.15% | 77 |
| CIF value | 51,127 |
| Duty under AKFTA | 0 |
| Korean port, THC and clearance | 650 |
| Inland haulage Busan to Gyeonggi | 700 |
| Landed cost excluding recoverable VAT | 52,477 |
| Uplift over FOB | 5.0% |
Without an AKFTA certificate, the same shipment at 8% MFN would add about USD 4,090. That is the whole argument for getting Form AK right.
Port choice
- Nationwide distribution and best sailing frequency: Busan
- Seoul metropolitan area with short trucking: Incheon
- Chemical, steel and industrial users in the southwest: Gwangyang
- Automotive supply in Gyeonggi: Pyeongtaek
Korean domestic trucking is not cheap. Saving USD 80 on ocean freight and then trucking 400km is a poor trade.
LCL versus FCL
The crossover on this lane sits around 12-15 CBM. Below that LCL wins; above it a 20ft container is usually cheaper once destination handling is included. Always compare all-in door figures.
Incoterms
Buy FOB Laem Chabang with your own Korean forwarder. Factory-arranged CIF hides margin in destination charges and inflates the dutiable CIF value. Avoid EXW unless you want to handle Thai export clearance yourself.
Cost levers
- Fill containers - consolidate multiple Thai suppliers into one load
- Claim AKFTA or RCEP on every eligible line
- Ship ahead of the pre-Chuseok and pre-Lunar New Year rushes
- Use bonded storage for slow-moving stock to defer duty and VAT
- Match the port to your warehouse, not to the cheapest ocean quote
Related: AKFTA and RCEP duty guide, Korean customs clearance.
FAQ
How long does shipping from Thailand to Korea take? Typically 7-11 days port to port to Busan, 9-14 days to Incheon, plus 3-5 days at origin. Air freight is 1-3 days.
Which Korean port should I use? Busan for frequency and nationwide distribution, Incheon for the Seoul metropolitan area, Gwangyang for industrial users in the southwest.
Is LCL or FCL cheaper from Thailand to Korea? LCL below roughly 12-15 CBM, FCL above it once destination charges are counted.
Should I buy FOB or CIF? FOB with your own forwarder, for cost visibility and a cleaner customs value.
How much above FOB should I budget for landed cost? Around 5-12% for a full container, depending on whether an FTA rate applies and how far the goods travel inland.