Hai Phong Port unveils new deep-water terminals to meet growing trade demand

With a total investment of approximately VND 6,946 billion, terminals 3 and 4 were commenced in July 2022 and consists of two main terminals, each 750 meters long, capable of accommodating vessels up to 100,000 DWT fully loaded and between 165,000 - 200,000 DWT when partially loaded, along with a 150-meter barge berth. The terminals are expected to handle cargo volumes of up to 1.5 million TEUs annually.

The terminals are invested in and operated under the "green port - smart port" model, applying modern technology and automation to meet environmental standards, save energy, and promote sustainable development.

With the addition of terminals 3 and 4 in Lach Huyen, the total throughput capacity of Hai Phong Port JSC. is estimated to reach nearly 3.5 million TEUs per year, providing a significant advantage in terms of both customer service capacity and network coverage in Hai Phong.

Operated through a strategic joint venture with MSC, the world’s largest shipping line, via the HTIT joint venture, terminals 3 and 4 have the potential to attract international shipping services, particularly from MSC itself.

Previously, due to limitations in waterway depth and terminal capacity, containerized cargo imports and exports in northern Vietnam had to be transshipped through international ports like Singapore or Hong Kong.

The operation of the two new terminals, along with Terminals 5 and 6 inaugurated earlier by Hateco, now allows large mother vessels to directly dock at Lach Huyen. As a result, goods can be exported directly from Hai Phong without transshipment, significantly reducing logistics costs and transportation time.

Clearly, this project has given Hai Phong Port a significant advantage in the context of the fierce competition between ports in the Hai Phong area.

The project to build the May Chai bridge and the city of Hai Phong's land reclamation in the Hoang Dieu area have impacted the company's customer sentiment, affecting the cargo throughput at the port. Meanwhile, competing ports in the region have been intensifying their restructuring and functional transformation efforts to proactively attract cargo as the Hoang Dieu area is relocated.

Nam Dinh Vu Port has been making significant investments in infrastructure with its Phase 3 development project, including the completion of dredging the Ha Nam channel and the entrance channel to a depth of -8.5m, along with the capacity to accommodate larger vessels and provide fast handling services.

The newly operational deep-water terminals 3, 4, 5, and 6 at Lach Huyen will impact the existing service routes operating at the Dinh Vu area and will have to compete fiercely with HITC, which has been operational for a while.

In addition to enhancing its competitiveness through the operation of terminals 3 and 4 at Lach Huyen, in 2025, Hai Phong Port will upgrade its wharves and add high-quality equipment and skilled personnel to handle vessels up to 40,000DWT at Chua Ve Port after the merger with Hoang Dieu Port.

The depth of the waterway will be upgraded to -8.5m, and the turning basin will be expanded to 300m to increase the capacity for larger vessels at Tan Vu Port and Dinh Vu Port. They will also invest in four modern STS cranes for Tan Vu and Dinh Vu ports.

Despite facing numerous challenges such as intense competition, geopolitical instability, the impact of capital disbursement for terminals 3 and 4 at Lach Huyen, interest costs from investment projects, and the effects of relocating Hoang Dieu Port, Hai Phong Port remains ambitious for its 2025 goals.

Specifically, Hai Phong Port aims to achieve 49.5 million tons in throughput and a revenue of VND 3.65 trillion in 2025, handling 2.393 million TEU containers, with pre-tax profit estimated at VND 1.353 trillion.

Compared to the previous year, these targets represent significant growth, with cargo throughput increasing by more than 23 per cent, revenue rising by over 25 per cent, and pre-tax profit expected to increase by nearly 16 per cent, reflecting efforts to expand scale and improve operational efficiency at Hai Phong Port.

The company’s strategy focuses on three key factors. First, continuing to explore collaboration opportunities and joint ventures with large customers to ensure efficient utilization of existing infrastructure at Hai Phong Port.

Second, effectively exploiting the port's internal capabilities to enhance service quality, manage costs effectively, and increase competitiveness in service provision.

Third, continuing to invest in-depth and capitalize on every opportunity to expand and develop the port in order to enhance service quality and business capabilities.

Key links in the national seaport development

With the vision of becoming one of the world’s leading ports, the Lach Huyen deep-water port complex is being developed on 2,000 hectares with a 55km coastline, targeting a capacity of 100 million TEU per year by 2030.

With the operation of terminals 3 and 4, Lach Huyen has now activated 6 out of 15 planned berths, catering not only to Hai Phong but the entire northern region’s cargo needs.

With a stable growth rate of 12-15 per cent annually, Hai Phong port’s cargo throughput reached about 190 million tons in 2024 and is expected to hit 212 million tons in 2025.

The Lach Huyen international container terminals 3 and 4 are key links in the national seaport development plan through 2030, with a vision to 2045, aiming to make Vietnam a strong, wealthy maritime nation.

This project is expected to become a modern transshipment hub, directly linking international shipping routes, enhancing export-import capacity, attracting investment, and supporting the development of logistics and supply chains in Vietnam in a sustainable and modern direction.

Terminals 5 and 6, inaugurated by Hateco in April 2025, cover 73 hectares, with a 900m-long quay and depths ranging from -16.8m to -18.4m, capable of handling two large 200,000DWT container ships simultaneously, with a maximum vessel length of 400m.

Terminals 1 and 2 at Lach Huyen, invested by HICT (a joint venture between Tan Cang Saigon Corporation and Japan’s Monnykit Co., Ltd.), were operational since 2018 with an investment of over VND 7,000 billion.

Additionally, terminals 7 and 8, totaling 900m in length, received approval from the Prime Minister in 2023. Hai Phong Economic Zone Management has granted investment registration certificates to Tan Cang Saigon Corporation, with a total investment of over VND 12.7 trillion, expected to be operational by 2027.