Vietnam Maritime Corporation’s (formerly Vinalines) subsidiary Saigon Port plans to work with Mediterranean Shipping Company to build and operate an international container terminal in Can Gio district in Ho Chi Minh City.
The proposal, involving the development of a terminal to receive ships of up to 250,000 dwt and to handle 15 million TEU annually, was submitted to the government on 25 March. VIMC said that US$850 million of investments will be needed to build the terminal.
VIMC said that container transshipment and port services have been the competitive advantages of many coastal countries.
In its proposal, VIMC said, “Can Gio is located at the start of the Cai Mep-Thi Vai route, near international shipping routes. This is important for establishing international container transshipment services.”
VIMC noted that trassnshipment services have been successfully offered in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China and Taiwan.
Singapore, the world’s largest transshipment port, handled 37.5 million TEU in 2021 and it is estimated that 85% of these volumes are transhipments.
In comparison, Vietnam Maritime Administration’s figures show that the country’s sea ports processed around 23.9 million TEU in 2021, primarily through Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau and Hai Phong.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
