Bangkok air cargo backlog bites exports as Cathay and SIA restrict freight

More than 1,000 cargo lots are sitting uncollected and 700-800 pallets await breakdown at Thai Airways' Suvarnabhumi warehouse, and the congestion has now spread from Bangkok's imports to its exports.

Cathay Cargo has restricted Bangkok-bound freight until at least 15 November, accepting only intact unit load devices (ULDs) that can be released without breakdown at destination, with exemptions for specified temperature-controlled and special cargo. Singapore Airlines Cargo notified customers last week of temporary restrictions on certain shipments, citing disruption to ULD circulation and outbound handling.

Neither Thai Airways (TG) nor Airports of Thailand (AOT) has confirmed the current backlog size or a recovery date.

What are the authorities doing?

AOT said on Thursday it had allocated Warehouse 4 in the airport's free zone for oversized cargo and was discussing additional space for international imports with Thai Airways and Customs. It is also working to improve shipment tracking.

Thai Airways acknowledged on Friday that rising inbound volumes had left large numbers of ULDs awaiting breakdown and storage, delaying deliveries. Its response includes:

• adding staff and forklifts
• seeking more warehouse space
• introducing a system to record cargo locations
• prioritising shipments that arrived before 23 October while still handling new arrivals

That last point matters. Cargo predating 23 October moves first, which means anything arriving after that date joins the back of a queue with no confirmed clearance timeline.

Why can't forwarders get their cargo?

Missing or inaccurate storage records have compounded the problem, according to the Thai Airfreight Forwarders Association. Agents simply cannot establish when shipments can be collected. Unprocessed cargo also ties up ULDs needed for subsequent flights, so one delayed breakdown cascades into the next flight's loading capacity.

UK forwarder Beckchoice reported a 3 November advisory from Thai Airways' Korea cargo office noting limited acceptance of some transit and Thailand-bound freight between 4-8 November, restricted to through or unitised ULDs.

Warnings predate the latest measures. Teleport, Expeditors and Geodis have all flagged congestion at the TG warehouse over the past two months, affecting both inbound and outbound handling.

How deep are the cuts to capacity?

In its latest regional air market update, Expeditors said TG had asked airlines to reduce inbound volumes and restricted additional charters until further notice. An earlier briefing reported a request to cut inbound cargo by 50% through 7 November.

Expeditors also reported longer queues for weighing and export handover at TG, as import breakdown delays prolonged export processing. At BFS, truck waiting times remained around 24 hours, despite some improvement after warehouse expansion.

What does this change for shippers?

The Thai Chamber of Commerce warned the delays were raising costs and disrupting production and delivery schedules for manufacturers reliant on imported materials and components. Congested working areas and delayed ULD breakdown now affect exports too.

Time-sensitive manufacturing inputs are among the exposed goods. WICE Logistics executive Chudech Kongsunthorn told Thai publication The Standard that data centre and electronics investment was driving equipment imports, alongside semiconductor and electronic parts, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals.

"Cargo normally released within 24 hours was taking days or, in some cases, weeks," he said.

Export delays also threaten electronics and other airfreight staples, including fresh food, flowers, gems and medical goods — categories with little tolerance for warehouse dwell time.

Is demand part of the problem?

Yes. The congestion comes amid continued demand growth on some routes: WorldACD recorded a 20% year-on-year increase in chargeable weight from Thailand to the US in the week to 1 November. Inbound equipment volumes tied to data centre build-outs are stacking on top of that outbound strength, squeezing the same constrained warehouse and ULD pool from both directions.

For forwarders, the practical playbook is already visible in the carriers' own restrictions: book intact, unitised ULDs where possible, expect transit acceptance limits through at least mid-November, and build extra days into Bangkok collection timelines. With TG prioritising pre-23 October shipments and charters restricted until further notice, recovery looks incremental rather than sudden, and exporters of perishables and electronics should plan for tight ULD availability on outbound flights until the backlog clears.