APM Terminals inks deal with Ctg Port Authority to operate Laldia Container Terminal for 30 years
Netherlands-based APM Terminals BV has signed a 30-year concession agreement with the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) to develop and operate the Laldia Container Terminal, a major public–private partnership (PPP) project aimed at boosting Bangladesh's port capacity.
The signing ceremony took place this morning at the InterContinental Dhaka, presided over by Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) Chief Executive Officer Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun. Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain attended as chief guest.
Among the special guests were Lina Gandløse Hansen, Denmark's state secretary for trade and investment; Christian Brix Møller, Danish ambassador to Bangladesh; and Robert Maersk Uggla, chairman of the Maersk board.
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The Laldia terminal is expected to begin operations between 2028 and 2030. Under the agreement, APM Terminals, part of Danish shipping giant AP Moller–Maersk, will design, finance, build and operate the terminal under a PPP framework.
Last week, PPPA CEO Ashik said the company will invest an initial $550 million (around Tk6,700 crore) over the next three years for construction, equipment and related work. As part of the signing, APM Terminals will pay Tk250 crore.
"For every TEU, they will pay us $21," he said. "If the annual volume exceeds 900,000 TEUs, the rate will increase to $23 per TEU. As the number goes even higher, the rate will gradually decrease. Our focus was to ensure that the Chittagong Port Authority does not incur any losses."
Speaking at the event, Uggla said the investment comes at a crucial moment for Bangladesh, particularly for sectors reliant on efficient supply chains.
"Some of our biggest clients have their manufacturing in Bangladesh, and we do our utmost to support their presence here," he said.
He added that Chattogram Port operates at very high utilisation levels, and with expected growth in both garments and other industries, new capacity is essential.
"This investment in the Laldia container terminal arrives when Bangladesh truly needs it. The terminal will be a state-of-the-art greenfield facility and will embody the highest global standards in safety, automation and sustainability," Uggla said.
"It will strengthen the country's competitiveness, enhance freight flows and support the aspirations of many importers, exporters and young professionals. It will enable us to bring much bigger ships to this country and provide great jobs on the waterfront."
Uggla emphasised that the investment reflects Maersk's confidence in Bangladesh's people and economic potential. "We remain committed to working side by side with our local partner, our clients and the government to deliver better jobs and support sustainable economic impact," he said.
Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman, chairman of the CPA, described the agreement as a milestone for the country. "I would like to thank all of you for coming today to make history for Bangladesh," he said.
"This terminal is coming at a moment when we are really hungry for capacity and hungry for efficiency," he said. "Bangladesh now handles 3.3 million TEUs of containers, already beyond our existing capacity. With 11% annual growth, we will need to handle another 1.5 million TEUs in the next five years. That is an enormous capacity and efficiency challenge."
Moniruzzaman said the current port structure limits competitiveness.
He said, "Chattogram Port is a tool port, a river port, and a feeder port – and that makes our logistics cost enormous. If we want to be competitive and relevant, we need to compete with our peers like Vietnam. Otherwise, high-end and value-added products will not come to Bangladesh."
"That's why enhancing our market relevance is our goal, and for that, we need structures and facilities like APM Terminals," he added.
