The Thai Canal (also known as the Kra Canal) is a proposed canal that would cut across the Malay Peninsula in Southern Thailand. This man-made waterway would connect the Andaman Sea with the Gulf of Thailand, providing a maritime shortcut by rerouting shipping away from the Strait of Malacca. The canal of approximately 100 km would save 1200 km on the current journey via Singapore.
The idea for a Klong Thai (Thai Canal) was first proposed by Thai King Narai in the 17th century, and the British East India Company showed interest in the early 19th century. The plan has been revisited over the centuries, but the financial and technical challenges involved in the project have kept it on the proverbial drawing board.
[Image via Wikimedia.]
In modern times the canal has been given serious reconsideration by China, which considers the route as part of the 21st century maritime Silk Road.
Having access to this shortcut between the Indian and Pacific oceans fits in with the String of Pearls strategy, where China is establishing civilian maritime infrastructure around the Indian Ocean rim.
The Thai Canal would be comparable in size with the Suez and Panama canals. The Suez Canal is 192 km and the Panama Canal is 77 km, and the preferred route of the Kra Canal is 128 km.
While the Suez Canal was built over flat desert, the construction of the Panama Canal required locks to get ships over hilly terrain. The Kra Canal would also need locks, depending on the chosen route.
The Panama Canal was an enormous engineering feat, especially considering it was built over 100 years ago. Its construction had the added incentive of saving weeks of travel, while the Thai Canal would only save two or three days.
There are different routes that have been selected as potential corridors. The shortest route of 44 km also has the highest elevation, so there would be need to be locks to get the ships across the peninsula. This is at the Isthmus of Kra, where the Kra Canal name is derived.
The other shortest route is in the Deep South. This would cause the problem creating an artificial border just above the troubled three provinces of Southern Thailand.
The preferred route is known as 9A, a 128km route from Krabi province on the Andaman coast to Songkhla province on the Gulf of Thailand. This is not at the Isthmus of Kra, thus it’s more accurate to call it the Thai Canal.
[Route 9A (image via bangkokpost.com.)]
In addition to the enormous financial cost is the environmental cost as well. With canal being 400 metres wide and 30 metres deep, that’s a lot of earth that needs to be moved somewhere else. One suggestion was for a new island. The half-kilometre wide line across the peninsula would also restrict movement of wildlife on either side. And depending on the chosen route, ships might pass through national marine parks.
In lieu of a canal, Thailand started building a land bridge in the 1990’s with Highway 44. The highway has been built with enough space to include a railway and pipelines, though so far it is not connected to established ports. If this project was fully established it would be an alternative land bridge to the East West Economic Corridor.
The latest news had a call for another feasibility study in January 2020, so for now the project still lives on.
News Archive
This page includes a news archive to record updates.
2023
Capital Trust Group proposes a $200 billion smart city development along Thai Canal – [04/03/23]
2022
Regional effort needed to resist China’s renewed push for Thai Canal – [08/03/22]
Thai canal plan won’t die, says activist – [07/02/22]
“The Thai canal project is unlikely to be put to rest, despite the House of Representatives last week rejecting a study into the proposal, says an activist working on environmental issues.”
2021
By land or sea: Thailand perseveres with the Kra Canal – [22/09/21]
Over land or sea?
“It could result in more earth being moved than both the Panama and the Suez canals combined – and it won’t pay for itself. Stevie Knight asks if the Thai Canal is still worth consideration?”
2020
Controversial Thai Canal back in spotlight – [14/10/20]
“The 120-kilometre Thai Canal project running from Krabi on the Andaman Sea to Trang, stretching to Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla on the Gulf of Thailand, recently returned to the limelight after decades of proposals.”
India sees debt diplomacy at play in China-backed Thai canal, finds talk of gains exaggerated – [04/10/20]
“The Kra canal project envisages a canal cutting across Thailand, and connecting the Gulf of Thailand to the Andaman Sea. It seeks to offer an alternative route to busy Malacca Strait.”
Will Thailand’s bid to bypass Strait of Malacca ever be built – and will China play a part? – [21/09/20]
India has shown interest in building strategic Kra Canal, says Thailand – [18/09/20]
China, other powers may support ‘Kra Canal’ project – [15/09/20]
South link needs clarity – [14/09/20]
NESDC to reboot Thai Canal plan – [11/09/20]
“The state planning unit looks set to host public hearings and begin new feasibility studies of the so-called Thai Canal or 9A canal route”.
A land bridge or the Kra Canal for Thailand? – [09/09/20]
“Why the land bridge idea will never work.”
Thailand mulls replacing $28bn Kra canal idea with a railway – [03/09/20]
Thailand studies Malacca bypass to link Indian, Pacific oceans – [23/08/20]
Is digging Kra Canal still a pipe dream? – [28/01/20]
Time to revisit canal project – [20/01/20]
2019
Thailand’s Kra canal project: Game changers and China’s involvement – [21/10/19]
Thailand’s perennial Kra Canal project: Pros, cons and potential game changers – [September 2019]
Canal conundrum – [28/01/19]
Thailand could sacrifice its sovereignty for questionable gains from Chinese–built waterway.
2018
sniwire.com/2018/11/08/a-341-year-old-idea-whose-time-has-come
A 341-year-old idea whose time has come? – [08/11/18]
“Among many potential routes for the Thai-Kra Canal, ‘9A’ has become the most likely one if a green signal is given. The route is from Koh Lanta and Klong Thom districts of Krabi province on the Andaman Sea coast to the eastern seaboard in Songkhla province along the Gulf of Thailand.”
Thailand’s move on Kra Canal alarms New Delhi as route will boost Chinese naval power in Indian Ocean – [05/11/18]
PM mulls canal plan but army brooks no delay – [30/10/18]
“Panel needed to study waterway, critics say.”
NESDB to study feasibility of Kra canal plan – [08/07/18]
“The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) should be entrusted to study the feasibility of the Kra Canal plan which will connect the Gulf of Thailand to the Andaman Sea in the South, the Marine Department has suggested.”
Thailand’s Kra Canal: China’s way around the Malacca Strait – [06/04/18]
A 200-year-old dream might finally become a reality under China’s Belt and Road.
Kra Canal advocates continue bid – [25/03/18]
“For the past two years, the Thai Canal Association (TCA) has upped efforts to persuade Prayut Chan-o-cha’s cabinet to finally implement the mega canal plan also known as the “Thai Canal” project.”
Govt starts review of Kra canal – [11/02/18]
Centuries in the making: Will Thailand build a 100km canal? – [01/02/18]
“First envisioned in 1677, proposals for a Thai canal linking the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea are back on the agenda.”
A man, a plan, a canal…Thailand? – [25/01/18]
“Ex-top brass appeal to new King Vajiralongkorn to bless building the long-envisioned Kra canal; China is keen to start digging.”
2017
Kra Canal Project and unbiased approach – [20/11/17]
The Kra Isthmus Canal – A maritime silk road to rival the Suez and Panama – [13/11/17]
The geopolitics of the Kra Canal – [04/10/17]
Conference urges feasibility study on Kra Canal – [25/09/17]
“Engineers, retired politicians and bureaucrats urged the Thai government to conduct a feasibility study on building the Kra Canal, a waterway to link the Indian and Pacific Oceans, at a conference in Bangkok last week, claiming it would help drive growth throughout the entire Southeast Asian region.”
Groundswell of support for ‘Thai Canal’ – [18/09/17]
“A long-forgotten canal project has moved one step closer to being resurrected after a group of influential figures and businessmen with Chinese ties backed an economic feasibility study for the scheme.”
Kra Canal project revisited as part of China’s Maritime Silk Road – [11/09/17]
“The Kra Canal project has swept back into vogue again after years of being dismissed as too difficult to build, and opposition from Singapore, who would lose huge amounts of shipping. A group of influential retired Thai generals, politicians, academics and businessmen with close links to China have revived plans to construct a US$28 billion and 135 kilometre canal across southern Thailand to link the Indian and Pacific oceans.”
The Kra Canal: New Gateway to Maritime Silk Road – [05/09/17]
“King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and Thai Canal Association for Study and Development prepare for Technology for Sustainable Paths to Thailand’s Future.”
The Kra Canal: Double bypass – [14/08/17]
“Reports that Thailand, with Chinese money, is planning to build a new canal between the Pacific and Indian Oceans have set off a new wave of alarm bells over China’s plans to dominate the region.”
Thailand’s Kra canal plan would link Indian, Pacific oceans, benefiting China – [08/08/17]
“A group of influential retired Thai generals, politicians, academics and businessmen with close links to China have revived plans to construct a US$28 billion ($35 billion) and 135 kilometre canal across southern Thailand to link the Indian and Pacific oceans.”
Influential Thais in push for Kra Canal project – [07/08/17]
China’s Belt and Road Initiative may kick-start long-envisaged $28bn seaway.
2016
The real threat to Singapore – construction of Thai’s Kra Canal financed by China – [02/10/16]
“China is keen on the Kra Canal project partly for strategic reasons. Presently, 80% of China’s oil from the Middle East and Africa passes through the Straits of Malacca. China has long recognized that in a potential conflict with other rivals, particularly with the US, the Strait of Malacca could easily be blockaded, cutting-off its oil lifeline. Former Chinese President Hu Jintao even coined a term for this, calling it China’s “Malacca Dilemma”.”
Could this be china’s Panama Canal? – [30/05/16]
“China weighs a big dig in Thailand.”
The Thai Canal that may change Singapore forever – [30/04/16]
“If Thailand created it, the canal would shorten voyages from Europe to China by 1,200km and end Singapore’s status as a top sea hub.”
2015
Thailand’s Kra Canal: Is Vietnam angling in? – Analysis – [04/09/15]
“Vietnam’s decision to build a deep-water seaport off its southern-most province of Ca Mau may signal the eventual building of Thailand’s Kra Canal as a new regional shipping lane.”
Dusting off ‘The Kra Isthmus Project’ worth trillion baht, 338 years of dream-what must we offer? – [30/08/15]
[12 routes of the Kra Isthmus Project.]
Easing the Malacca energy bottleneck: Is it time for the Kra Canal? – [29/06/15]
Kra Isthmus shortcut would mean big shifts in Southeast Asia – [25/06/15]
Kra Canal dream still far from reality – [07/06/20]
“Cutting across the southern isthmus would shake up global trade routes, but the long-debated project faces hurdles at home and abroad.”
No, China isn’t building a game-changing canal in Thailand (yet) – [21/05/15]
“Both Beijing and Bangkok have denied any government agreement on the Kra Canal.”
China not involved in Kra canal work – [20/05/15]
“China has denied it is involved in work on the Kra canal, defusing hype over a project that purportedly lets ships bypass the Strait of Malacca and Singapore’s port.”
Thailand, China teams up on Kra Canal – [19/05/15]
“Thailand and China have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Guangzhou to jointly cut a shipping passage across Kra Isthmus in southern Thailand, the narrowest part of the Malay Peninsula.”
Historic Thai canal plan resurfaces – [04/02/15]
“The idea of building a major shipping canal across the south of Thailand dates back to the 1600s. The most recent plan, discussed about a decade ago, involves financing from China, and it is this plan that has recently resurfaced in Thai local media.”
[Image by Wikimedia.]
2014
Thailand’s Kra Canal, keystone for South Asian development – [August 2014]
2013
How a Thai Canal could transform Southeast Asia
“An idea to build a canal through southern Thailand could have broad geopolitical ramifications.”
2012
The Kra Canal and Southeast Asian relations
“This paper is a conceptual study that attempts to analyse the possible effects of the development of the Kra Isthmus Canal on ASEAN relations.”
1998
Asia’s Suez Canal project fires recovery hopes – [06/09/98]
1975
The Kra Canal : an analysis of a foreign policy alternative for the United States Navy in the Indian Ocean – [March 1975]
Robert says
Great project research! Did anyone ever propose a Songkhla – PadanBesar(border)- Perlis (Malaysia) route? It would be 100 KM without crossing any mountain range. 2/3 in Thailand 1/3 in Malaysia. Share the cost/benefit between friendly nations.
James Clark says
Thanks Robert. The closest proposal to yours is just above the Thai-Malaysian border. It would be a good spot geographically, but if it was in two countries then both countries would be competing against each other to create a new port city at either end. There is also the concern that putting a hard boundary just above the troubled deep south provinces (Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat) would embolden separatists to make the channel as the border.
robert says
Thanks for the response James. After digging deeper and examining the TAMS report, I found option 6 following my suggested Malaysia route.
Image: tcijthai.com/ckfinder/userfiles/images/03-map-TAMS(1).JPG
Generally I would say that 2 industrial centres and ports within 100 km and within the same country might not be necessary. There will also always be competition once the ships leave the canal (Penang/Georgetown has a developing port). The eastern port will however have an advantage to eastward shipping and the western port will have a western shipping advantage (especially for feeder services).
Once one of the southern options is chosen any of them would have the “separatist” problem i guess.
Maybe I am going against the zeitgeist by proposing 2 countries working together and prospering together, but it would be so beautiful if they could make it work.
James Clark says
thanks, good find with the map! Good route, but yeah, both countries already have enough unstarted mega projects, so getting them onboard with a joint on would be extra difficult
Bernie Lim says
When it comes to economic interest even intra national states would present to all complex problems and most likely creating diversities. Carefulness, deliberation on regional stabilities should be seriously considered.
Paul says
If a canal can be built between the border of Thailand and Malaysia it may bring peace to the area, with economic growth , more job for the local people on both country , tourist will increase it will bring peace to both country