Key Takeaways

• CLMV comprises Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, all of which are ASEAN member states and markets located relatively close to Thailand.
• Trade with CLMV countries can be conducted via Road, Sea, or Air Freight. The appropriate mode depends on the destination country, shipment volume, lead time, and route.
• Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar can be connected directly to Thailand by road, while Vietnam can be reached by road through neighboring countries.
• Using Form D under ATIGA may help reduce import duties for goods that meet the applicable Rules of Origin. However, this does not mean that all goods automatically qualify for a 0% tariff rate.
• Before shipping, verify the HS Code, Product Regulations, Border Requirements, Incoterms, and documentation requirements of both the origin and destination countries. CLMV is a term used to refer to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, four ASEAN countries that have economic and logistics links with Thailand in various ways.

One of the key advantages of this market group is its geographical proximity. Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar share borders with Thailand, making Cross-border Road Transport one of the transportation options businesses can use.

However, treating CLMV as a single, uniform market can lead to poor planning because each country has a different market structure, import regulations, transport routes, and buyer behavior.

Businesses should therefore analyze each country individually before deciding to export or import goods.

Which Countries Make Up CLMV?

CLMV consists of four countries:

• C – Cambodia
• L – Laos
• M – Myanmar
• V – Vietnam

All four countries are members of ASEAN, so trade between them falls under relevant cooperation frameworks such as ATIGA, as well as other trade agreements depending on the Route and Country of Origin.

However, ASEAN membership does not mean that goods can automatically cross a Border or qualify for preferential tariffs.

Businesses must still check the following for the specific goods:

• HS Code
• Import Regulation
• Export Regulation
• Rules of Origin
• Permit
• Product Standard
• Customs Procedure

Why Is the CLMV Market Attractive to Thai Businesses?

One of the key advantages is distance and Connectivity.

Thai businesses can connect with several countries through Road Freight, meaning a Shipment does not have to rely solely on Sea Freight or Air Freight.

Businesses can also arrange their Supply Chain in several ways, such as:

Thailand → Cross-border Truck → Distributor in CLMV

or

Supplier in CLMV → Cross-border Truck → Warehouse in Thailand

The proximity of these markets creates opportunities for businesses to:

• Ship medium-sized Lots
• Replenish Stock more frequently
• Test a market without shipping a large Container
• Connect Warehouses across countries
• Work with a Distributor or Dealer in the destination country
• Build a Regional Supply Chain

However, actual cost-effectiveness depends on each business's Route and Product Economics.

1. Importing and Exporting to Cambodia

Thailand and Cambodia share a border, so Cross-border Road Transport can be used to move goods between the two countries.

Businesses may consider several product groups for the Cambodian market, including:

• Consumer Goods
• Food & Beverage
• Home & Living
• Construction Materials
• Furniture
• Machinery
• Automotive Parts
• Packaging
• Industrial Supplies

However, not every type of product can be imported immediately. Cambodia's requirements must be checked before the Shipment.

Which Transport Method Is Suitable for Shipping from Thailand to Cambodia?

Road Freight is one of the main options because trucks can cross the Border from Thailand into Cambodia.

Service options may include:

• LTL
• FTL
• Cross-border Truck
• Door to Door
• Door to Border
• Border to Door

The suitable option depends on the Route and Service Scope.

Businesses with smaller Shipments may consider LTL to share truck space with other Shipments, while larger consignments or goods with specific requirements may be better suited to FTL.

Suggested Internal Link: What Is the Difference Between FTL and LTL? How to Choose the Right Road Freight Option for Your Goods

2. Importing and Exporting to Laos

Laos is another country that can be connected directly to Thailand by road through several border areas.

It can therefore suit Supply Chains that need to transport goods:

• From Thailand to a Distributor in Laos
• From a Thai Factory to a Project Site
• From a Supplier in Laos to Thailand
• Through a Warehouse for distribution
• Across borders onward to other regional markets

Potential product groups include:

• Consumer Products
• Food
• Restaurant Equipment
• Construction Materials
• Machinery
• Agricultural Inputs
• Packaging
• Raw Materials

If the goods involve food, electrical appliances, chemicals, or controlled products, Laos's Import Requirements must be checked before shipping.

Advantages of Thailand–Laos Road Freight

Road routes can offer more flexible Delivery planning than Sea Freight for many destinations because goods can be transported directly from a Warehouse or Factory in Thailand to Laos.

However, actual Transit Time still depends on:

• Border Crossing
• Customs Clearance
• Route
• Truck Schedule
• Permit
• Traffic conditions
• Border operating days

Transit Time should therefore not be estimated from map distance alone.

3. Importing and Exporting to Myanmar

Myanmar shares a border with Thailand, and cross-border trade between the two countries has continued over time.

Businesses may consider goods such as:

• Consumer Goods
• Food
• Personal Care
• Construction Materials
• Machinery
• Spare Parts
• Packaging
• Agricultural Products
• Raw Materials

However, Myanmar is a market where businesses should pay particular attention to Border conditions, Regulations, and Payment before shipping.

Available Routes and transport conditions can change depending on the situation in each area.

What Should You Check Before Shipping to Myanmar?

Check the following:

• Which Border crossing will be used
• Whether the checkpoint is operating
• Whether the product is permitted on that Route
• Import License
• Payment Method
• Currency
• Local Delivery
• Insurance
• Customs Procedure
• Local Regulation

Do not plan a Shipment based on Freight Rate alone, because Operational Risk affects the actual cost of the Shipment.

4. Importing and Exporting to Vietnam

Vietnam differs from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar because it does not share a direct border with Thailand.

However, road connections may be arranged through neighboring countries, such as Laos or Cambodia, depending on the suitable Route.

In addition to Road Freight, businesses can use:

• Sea Freight
• Air Freight
• Multimodal Transport

depending on the type of goods.

Product groups worth exploring include:

• Consumer Goods
• Food & Beverage
• Packaging
• Industrial Parts
• Machinery
• Electronics
• Raw Materials
• Lifestyle Products

Vietnam also exports goods in various industries that may be imported into Thailand, such as:

• Textile
• Furniture
• Agricultural Products
• Food Ingredients
• Industrial Products
• Components

HS Code and Product Requirements should be checked every time.

How Can Goods Be Shipped to Vietnam by Road?

Because Thailand and Vietnam do not share a border, trucks must travel through a Transit Country before reaching the destination.

The Route may vary depending on:

• Origin
• Destination
• Border
• Cargo Type
• Truck Arrangement
• Customs Procedure

Planning must therefore account for the Transit Country and additional documentation, beyond what is required for direct Thailand–Laos or Thailand–Cambodia road transportation.

If the Destination is near a Port or the Shipment has a high Volume, Sea Freight may be another option worth comparing.

How Is Road Freight Suitable for CLMV Shipments?

Road Freight offers the advantage of connecting the origin and Destination without requiring every Shipment to pass through a Port or Airport.

It is suitable for goods such as:

• General Cargo
• Consumer Goods
• Machinery
• Auto Parts
• Raw Materials
• Packaging
• Furniture
• Commercial Lots

Both LTL and FTL can be selected according to Volume.

LTL

LTL, or Less than Truck Load, is suitable for Shipments that do not require an entire truck.

Its advantage is that Transportation Costs can be shared with other cargo.

It is suitable for:

• Small–Medium Shipments
• Market testing
• Stock replenishment
• Shipments that are not highly urgent

FTL

FTL, or Full Truck Load, primarily uses a truck dedicated to a single Shipment.

It is suitable for:

• Large quantities of goods
• Shipments requiring a Dedicated Truck
• Goods that should not be Consolidated
• Shipments requiring controlled Handling
• High-value goods or goods with specific requirements

The choice should take into account the Cost, Volume, and Schedule of the Shipment.

How Does Cross Border Differ from Road Freight?

Road Freight generally refers to the transportation of goods by road.

Cross Border specifically refers to transportation that crosses an international border, adding procedures such as:

• Export Customs
• Border Procedure
• Import Customs
• Permit
• Vehicle / Driver Requirement
• Transloading, depending on the Route
• Cross-border Documentation

Road Freight within Thailand is not necessarily Cross Border, but trucking goods from Thailand to CLMV is Cross-border Transport.

Can CLMV Shipments Be Arranged Door to Door?

Door-to-Door Service Scope can be arranged on many Routes, but the included steps must be confirmed.

For example:

Factory in Thailand → Export Customs → Border → Import Customs → Delivery → Customer in CLMV

Before Booking, check whether the Quote includes:

• Pickup
• Export Clearance
• Border Handling
• Main Trucking
• Import Clearance
• Duty & Tax
• Destination Delivery

In particular, Door to Door does not automatically mean that Import Duty and Tax are included in the price.

Suggested Internal Link: What Is the Difference Between Door to Door, Door to Port, and Port to Port?

What Documents Are Required to Export to CLMV?

Basic documents for a Commercial Shipment may include:

• Commercial Invoice
• Packing List
• Transport Document
• Export Customs Declaration
• Import Customs Declaration in the destination country
• Certificate of Origin, where applicable
• Permit / License
• Product Certificate
• Insurance Document, where applicable

Actual documentation requirements vary depending on the goods and destination country.

For example, Food, Cosmetics, Electronics, and Chemicals may have additional Requirements beyond those for General Cargo.

What Is Form D, and How Is It Used for CLMV Trade?

Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam are ASEAN members and are covered by the ATIGA – ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement framework.

If goods meet the Rules of Origin and ATIGA requirements, businesses may use relevant proof of origin, such as Form D, to claim Preferential Tariff treatment.

However, the following must be checked:

• HS Code
• Country of Origin
• Rules of Origin
• Tariff Rate
• Product Specific Rule
• Proof of Origin documents

Do not assume that:

Shipping to an ASEAN country = 0% duty

Tariffs and Origin Requirements can differ by product.

Suggested Internal Link: What Are Form A, Form D, and Form E? How Are They Used to Reduce Import–Export Duties?

Why Is a Certificate of Origin Important for CLMV Trade?

If a business wants to claim Preferential Tariff treatment, the product's Origin must be verified correctly.

For example, a Thai product that uses imported raw materials from China does not automatically qualify as Thai-origin goods.

It is necessary to check whether the manufacturing process in Thailand satisfies the applicable Rules of Origin.

Origin should therefore be verified before confirming a price to the Buyer, especially if the Buyer calculates costs on the assumption that FTA benefits will apply.

Suggested Internal Link: What Is a Certificate of Origin? Types of C/O and Required Documents

Why Is HS Code Important When Exporting to CLMV?

The HS Code is used to classify goods and is linked to:

• Import Duty
• Export Requirements
• Import Requirements
• FTA
• Permit
• Statistics
• Customs Declaration

Even products in the same broad category may have different HS Codes if their Materials or Functions differ.

The HS Code should therefore be checked before quoting a selling price, especially when calculating the Buyer's Duty and Landed Cost.

Can All Types of Goods Be Shipped to CLMV?

No.

Certain goods may be:

• Prohibited from import
• Subject to import restrictions
• Required to have a Permit
• Required to have product registration
• Required to meet standards
• Required to have a Certificate
• Subject to Inspection

Product groups that require particular attention include:

• Food
• Beverages
• Cosmetics
• Medicines
• Medical Devices
• Chemicals
• Hazardous Materials
• Electrical Appliances
• Communication Equipment
• Plants and Agricultural Products
• Animal Products

The fact that a truck can reach the destination country does not mean the goods will clear Customs without additional Requirements.

What Should You Check When Importing Goods from CLMV into Thailand?

The principles are the same as for imports from other countries.

Check the following:

• Product
• HS Code
• Country of Origin
• Supplier
• Invoice
• Packing List
• Permit
• Import Duty
• VAT
• FTA
• Transportation
• Customs Clearance

If the goods originate in an ASEAN country and meet the Rules of Origin, ATIGA preferences may be considered to reduce Import Duty.

However, businesses should assess whether the potential benefit justifies the Cost and procedures involved in obtaining origin documents.

Is It Easy to Import Agricultural Products from CLMV into Thailand?

Agricultural products may be among the goods Thailand imports from neighboring countries, but that does not mean they can be imported without restrictions.

Requirements must be checked for the specific product, such as:

• Plant Quarantine
• Animal Quarantine
• Food Regulation
• Agricultural Standard
• Import Permit
• Certificates from the country of origin

Fresh agricultural products may have different Requirements from processed products.

The product name and Scientific / Product Details should therefore be provided clearly before Booking.

Should You Choose LTL or FTL for CLMV Shipments?

The choice depends on Quantity and operational requirements.

Choose LTL when:

• The Shipment does not fill a truck
• You want to reduce Transportation Costs
• You can wait for a Consolidation schedule
• The goods are General Cargo
• You are testing a market or replenishing Stock

Choose FTL when:

• The Volume is large
• A Dedicated Truck is required
• The Shipment is urgent
• You want to reduce Handling
• The goods are unsuitable for Consolidation
• There is a clearly defined Delivery Schedule

Do not choose based on Freight Cost alone. Cargo damage or delays can cost more than the difference in trucking rates.

What Costs Are Involved in CLMV Transportation?

Costs may include:

• Pickup
• Truck Freight
• Export Customs
• Border Handling
• Transloading, depending on the Route
• Import Customs
• Duty & Tax
• Permit
• Warehouse
• Insurance
• Destination Delivery
• Special Handling

Some Quotes may cover only Main Transportation and exclude Duty or destination-country charges.

Always request a clearly defined Service Scope before comparing prices.

Why Are Incoterms Important for CLMV Trade?

Incoterms help define how far the Seller and Buyer are responsible for Costs and Risk.

Examples used in international trade include:

• EXW
• FCA
• CPT
• CIP
• DAP
• DDP, where suitable and permitted by the destination country's requirements
• FOB / CIF for sea transportation

Do not select Incoterms based only on familiarity.

Check:

• Who handles Export Customs
• Who handles Import Customs
• Who pays Freight
• Who is responsible for Duty
• Where Risk Transfer occurs

For Cross-border shipments in particular, clearly dividing responsibilities between the Seller and Buyer helps reduce problems at the Border.

What Should You Plan Before Entering the CLMV Market?

Being able to ship goods to a country does not guarantee that they will sell.

Before investing, research:

• Target Customer
• Product–Market Fit
• Competitor
• Price Positioning
• Distributor
• Retail Channel
• E-commerce
• Regulation
• Tax
• Freight
• Payment Term
• After-sales Service

For a new business, it may be better to begin with a Test Shipment or a manageable Quantity to control risk, then increase Volume once actual Demand has been established.

Should You Find a Distributor in CLMV or Sell Directly?

This depends on the Product and Business Model.

A Distributor may help with:

• Market Access
• Local Network
• Sales
• Warehouse
• Delivery
• Customer Service
• Certain aspects of Local Regulation

However, businesses should consider:

• Margin
• Minimum Order
• Territory
• Exclusivity
• Payment Term
• Marketing Responsibility
• Inventory Risk

When entering a market for the first time, avoid granting an Exclusive Territory without clear KPIs or business terms.

Risks to Consider When Doing Business in CLMV

In addition to Freight and Customs, assess:

• Currency Risk
• Payment Risk
• Regulatory Change
• Border Closure / Border Restriction
• Political Situation
• Infrastructure
• Delivery Network
• Customer Credit
• Documentation
• Language
• Product Registration

For Cross-border Shipments in particular, check Route status before the goods depart every time. Do not automatically rely on information from a previous Shipment.

Information to Prepare Before Requesting a CLMV Freight Quote

To select a Route and estimate transportation costs, prepare:

• Product Name
• Product photos
• Product Description
• HS Code, if available
• Quantity
• Number of Packages
• Dimensions
• Gross Weight
• Pickup Address
• Pickup Postal Code
• Destination Address
• Destination Postal Code
• Incoterms
• Commercial Invoice
• Packing List
• Permit, where applicable
• Ready Date
• Required Service Scope

If the goods include:

• Battery
• Liquid
• Chemical
• Dangerous Goods
• Food
• Temperature-Controlled Goods

provide this information from the outset so the Route and Requirements can be checked correctly.

Checklist Before Importing or Exporting to CLMV

Before Booking, check the following in order:

• Select the target country and market
• Check the goods and HS Code
• Check Import / Export Requirements
• Check Permit requirements
• Verify Country of Origin
• Check FTA and Form D, where applicable
• Choose Road, Sea, or Air
• Choose LTL or FTL
• Determine Incoterms
• Prepare the Invoice and Packing List
• Check the Border and Route
• Calculate Duty, Tax, and Logistics Costs
• Review the Final Freight Quote
• Confirm the Ready Date and Delivery Plan

Preparing in advance helps reduce the risk of a Shipment being held at the Border while waiting for documents.

Frequently Asked Questions About Importing and Exporting to CLMV (FAQ)

Which countries are included in CLMV?

CLMV consists of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

Can goods be shipped by road to every CLMV country?

Road Freight can be used to reach all four countries on various Routes. However, Vietnam does not share a border with Thailand, so shipments must pass through a Transit Country and require additional Cross-border planning.

Does using Form D mean there are no taxes when shipping to CLMV?

Not necessarily. Check the HS Code, Tariff Rate, and Rules of Origin under ATIGA to determine whether the goods qualify and what tariff rate applies.

Which is more suitable for CLMV: LTL or FTL?

It depends on Volume and Requirements. LTL can help share costs when the goods do not fill a truck, while FTL may suit large Shipments or those requiring a Dedicated Truck.

Does Door-to-Door service to CLMV include taxes?

Not necessarily. Check the Service Scope and Quote to see whether Import Duty, Tax, and Customs Clearance are included or remain the consignee's responsibility.

Do you need a partner in the destination country?

Not in every case, but an Importer, Distributor, or Logistics Partner who understands local Regulations and Delivery can help improve operational efficiency in the destination country.

CLMV Transportation Services with CPL INTER

CPL INTER provides transportation services between Thailand and the CLMV countries—Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam—including Cross-border road transportation and Route planning, Shipping Documents, and customs procedures according to the Shipment's Service Scope.

If you are planning to import or export goods within CLMV, prepare the product name, photos, number of Packages, dimensions, weight, origin, destination, Incoterms, and relevant documents. The CPL INTER team can help assess the suitable Route and transportation options before Booking.

Tel: 02-519-4426 / 091-519-4426
LINE: @cplinter

Written by: CPL Inter Logistics Operations Team, specialists in international freight transportation and customs procedures, with more than 15 years of experience and an internationally recognized ISO 9001:2015 quality management system.