Asia

4900km

Seasonal variations in water (low water season  sometimes 50% less traffic in upper Mekong). Hydropower development on the river is expected to increase water levels during the dry season.

China, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam

Mekong River Commission http://www.mrcmekong.org/

More than 3 000 000 tonnes/year (containers included)

Wood, agricultural products (vegetables, rice, fruits..), construction materials, hydrocarbons, fertilizers, rubber, containers.

For thousands of years, the Mekong River has been an important transportation link for people and goods. Today it is becoming an important link in international trade routes and it is becoming an attraction for tourism (about 250 0000 tourist cruise passengers take trips on the Mekong every year). Recent efforts have been done to improve navigation 24h/year and new international navigation agreements have been settled between the different countries crossed.
 
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) is an inter-governmental agency working directly with the governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam on their common specific interests—joint management of shared water resources and sustainable development of the Mekong River. The MRC aims to ensure that the Mekong water is developed in the most efficient manner that mutually benefits all Member Countries and minimises harmful effects on people and the environment in the Lower Mekong Basin.