New Bukit Kayu Hitam-Sadao Route Effectively Streamlines Cross-Border Traffic

SONGKHLA: The new route at the Bukit Kayu Hitam-Sadao border complex has successfully streamlined traffic movement, particularly for logistics vehicles and cross-border trade, after one month of operation.

The 900-metre route connects the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah with the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Sadao, Thailand.

Sadao Customs Director, Buntoon Oucharoen, said nearly 100 percent of lorries, buses and vans have now switched to the new route, thus successfully easing congestion on the old route.

“This smooth flow is driven by the use of modern inspection systems. Advanced X-ray equipment known as ‘Fast Scan’ has reduced container scanning time from five minutes to less than one minute.

“In addition, goods information can be checked directly through the computer system. This allows lorries to move smoothly without having to queue up,” he told Bernama at the Sadao Customs Office recently.

He said, the new route records the movement of more than 1,000 logistics lorries per day.

It was jointly officiated by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on July 10.

It began operations officially a day later to improve the efficiency of cross-border trade and logistics activities.

The increased operational efficiency also contributed to a surge in the value of import and export trade between the two countries.

Based on Sadao Customs data for the period of July 11 to 31, the value of imports increased to 19 billion Baht (100 Baht = RM12.37) compared to 12 billion Baht for the same period last year.

The value of exports also surged to more than 24 billion Baht compared to 13 billion Baht previously.

Meanwhile, President of the Hatyai-Songkhla Hotel Association, Sittipong Sitthiphataraprabha, welcomed the opening of 11 entry lanes and 11 exit lanes at the new route which facilitates the movement of tourists, especially on weekends and public holiday seasons.

For the period of January to March 2026, the value of Malaysia-Thailand bilateral trade recorded RM31.33 billion (US$7.90 billion), compared to RM27.35 billion (US$6.15 billion) for the same period in 2025.

Both countries, which will celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations next year, also remain committed to achieving the bilateral trade target of US$30 billion by 2027.

BERNAMA