The old Ryukyuan designation for Southeast Asia was "Manaban". It is not known exactly when trade with Southeast Asia began, but it was being carried out by the 14th century.
It reached full swing during the 15th century. The Ryukyu Kingdom, having obtained large quantities of superior Chinese products, brought them to their customers in Japan and Korea, acting as intermediary traders. Finally, seeking even more profits they expanded their trading routes to include the remote Southeast Asian areas.
Their trading partners were the port cities of Southeast Asia and included the then prosperous kingdoms of Siam (Thailand), Palembang (southeast Sumatra), Java (Indonesia), and Malacca (Malaysia). From the Ryukyus they brought the trade goods they obtained in China, such as ceramics and silk fabrics, as well as other products, including sulfur, from the Ryukyus and craft goods from Japan. They traded for the high quality dyes (soboku), pepper, liquors, elephant ivory, and other precious products from Southeast Asia.
However, as the Europeans countries, such as Portugal and Spain, began to exercise power in the area during the 16th century, this trade rapidly declined. As the Chinese edicts restricting trade were gradually relaxed and the merchant ships of Japan began to make their appearance, the age of competitive international commerce began in Southeast Asia.
The Ryukyu kingdom, possessing but a small amount of trading power, sent its last mission to Siam in 1570.

The numbers of trading missions dispatched to Southeast Asia.