APM Terminals has officially begun construction of the $550 million Laldia Container Terminal at Chattogram Port in Bangladesh, marking a major step in the modernisation of the country’s principal maritime gateway.
The project is being developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) involving APM Terminals, the Chittagong Port Authority and local partner QNS Container Services. It is backed by a Bangladesh-Denmark government-to-government partnership and represents one of Bangladesh’s largest PPP investments.
Once operational, the terminal is expected to add more than 800,000 TEUs of annual container-handling capacity. Some project estimates put its eventual handling capability at around one million TEUs a year, which would significantly increase Chattogram’s existing capacity.
A key feature of the project will be its ability to accommodate container vessels of up to 6,000 TEUs. This is more than double the current vessel-size limit of around 2,800 TEUs at Chattogram, allowing larger ships to call directly at the port and potentially reducing reliance on feeder services through regional transshipment hubs.
The terminal will be built on approximately 49.15 acres at Laldia Char, near the mouth of the Karnaphuli River in Patenga. Plans include a 616-metre quay, seven ship-to-shore cranes, 32 electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes and 41 electric terminal tractors.
APM Terminals says the facility is being designed as a low-emission, energy-efficient terminal, incorporating electrified cargo-handling equipment, solar power installations and shore-power-ready systems. The project is intended to reduce emissions while improving cargo-handling efficiency.
The terminal is expected to be operational around 2030 and could generate more than 1,000 jobs during construction and over 500 operational positions, in addition to indirect employment across logistics and related industries.
The project is particularly important for Bangladesh because Chattogram handles the overwhelming majority of the country’s international trade. Increasing terminal capacity is considered essential as container volumes continue to grow and existing port infrastructure faces capacity constraints.
For exporters, particularly Bangladesh’s ready-made garment, apparel and manufacturing industries, the terminal could improve access to global shipping networks. Direct calls by larger vessels could shorten transit times, improve schedule reliability and potentially reduce logistics costs.
The development also supports Bangladesh’s ambition to transform Chattogram into a regional logistics hub. Modern terminal infrastructure, larger vessel access and improved cargo-handling technology are expected to strengthen the port’s competitiveness and attract additional international shipping and logistics activity.
With construction now underway, the Laldia Container Terminal represents a major investment in Bangladesh’s maritime infrastructure and could substantially reshape Chattogram Port’s capacity, vessel connectivity and role in regional trade once completed.