Globalshipping powerhouse CMA CGM has taken a strategic leap forward inSoutheast Asia’s maritime sector by signing a $600 millionagreement to develop a cutting-edge container terminal complex innorthern Vietnam’s Haiphong port. The deal, inked in partnershipwith Saigon Newport Corporation, was formalized during FrenchPresident Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to Vietnam this week.
This landmark development will see the construction and operationof Terminals 7 and 8 at the Lach Huyen deepwater port, significantlyexpanding the region’s cargo handling capabilities. With a combinedcapacity of 1.9 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), theterminals are slated to be operational by 2028.
Haiphong is emerging as a strategic maritime gateway, especiallyfor manufacturers and exporters in northern Vietnam. While CMA CGMalready has terminal investments in southern Vietnam—including HoChi Minh City and the high-performing Cai Mep terminal—this newproject marks the French carrier’s first foray into the north,balancing its geographic footprint across the country.
This move is not just about expansion—it’s aboutfuture-proofing. With rising container volumes through Vietnam drivenby nearshoring, manufacturing growth, and strong trade flows, CMA CGMis securing long-term terminal capacity to meet escalating demand.
The Haiphong project is the latest in a series of investments byCMA CGM aimed at enhancing its presence in Vietnam while advancingsustainable logistics. In December, the group launched an electricbarge service connecting Binh Duong and Cai Mep, transporting goodsfor brands like Nike and reducing carbon emissions in the supplychain.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of APM Terminals’ jointventure with HATECO Group, which opened Terminals 5 and 6 at LachHuyen earlier this year. The race to develop northern Vietnam’sport infrastructure signals the region’s growing importance inglobal trade and the intensifying competition among terminaloperators.
For shippers, freight forwarders, and logistics providers, CMACGM’s investment in Haiphong represents improved access to reliableand scalable port infrastructure in a region known for rapidindustrial development. The upcoming terminals are expected to reducecongestion, improve turnaround times, and support the country’sambitions to become a premier logistics hub in Asia.
As global supply chains seek greater resilience and regionaldiversification, northern Vietnam is poised to play a pivotalrole—and CMA CGM is clearly betting on that future.
Source:https://www.joc.com/article/cma-cgm-signs-deal-to-develop-600-million-haiphong-terminal-complex-6012131
