APM Terminals and Hateco Group have signed an agreement with Da Nang City to develop, build and operate the Lien Chieu Container Port in Da Nang, Vietnam, representing an estimated investment of over US$ 1.7 billion.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc, marking the formal commencement of a project that will position Da Nang as central Vietnam’s primary deep-sea container gateway.
The terminal is designed to handle more than 5.7 million TEU per year at full capacity across eight container berths, with the ability to accommodate vessels of up to 18,000 TEUs.
Phase 1 will cover Berths 1 and 2, with expansion through Berths 3 to 8 to follow.
The facility will include deep-water berths, barge vessel capacity, container yards and connections to warehouses, rail, industrial parks and the Da Nang Free Trade Zone. Operations are targeted to commence in early 2029.
The project aligns with Vietnam’s National Strategy for Logistics Development and its Seaport Development Plan, which identifies Da Nang as one of four strategically prioritised logistics centres nationally.
The terminal is expected to strengthen connectivity not only for central Vietnam but also for neighbouring markets including Laos, Cambodia, eastern Thailand and Myanmar, reducing logistics costs and congestion across the subregional supply chain.
Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals, highlighted the combination of APM Terminals’ operational discipline and Hateco’s local expertise as the foundation for a high-performing gateway supporting central Vietnam’s growing trade flows.
Tran Van Ky, Chairman of Hateco Group, described the partnership as having already demonstrated strong results through the joint Hateco Hai Phong International Container Terminal in Hai Phong, which entered operations in 2025, and expressed confidence in the capacity of the Da Nang project to accelerate regional economic development.
