APM Terminals has marked the official groundbreaking for APM Terminals Laldia in Chattogram, Bangladesh, transitioning one of the largest Public-Private Partnership investments in the country’s history from signing to construction.
The US$ 550 million project is the flagship outcome of a Government-to-Government partnership between Bangladesh and Denmark, with senior government leaders from both countries attending the ceremony to mark their shared commitment to investment-led growth.
The terminal is being delivered in partnership with the Chittagong Port Authority and local partner QNS Container Services, and will be fully designed, financed, built and operated by APM Terminals and its partners, a first-of-its-kind model for Bangladesh’s port sector.
The port asset itself remains with Bangladesh throughout the concession, ensuring the country retains ownership of strategic infrastructure while benefiting from private investment and world-class operational expertise.
Once operational in 2030, APM Terminals Laldia will add over 800,000 TEU of annual handling capacity to Bangladesh’s port infrastructure, easing congestion at Chattogram and strengthening supply chain reliability for key export sectors including textiles, apparel and manufacturing.
The terminal’s deeper draft and extended quay will enable Chattogram to handle container vessels of up to 6,000 TEUs, more than double the current limit of approximately 2,800 TEUs, delivering higher efficiency through improved vessel turnaround times and reduced logistics costs.
The terminal is designed to be among Bangladesh’s first energy-efficient, low-emission port facilities, incorporating electrified cargo-handling equipment, solar power installations and shore-power-ready systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, noise and air pollution for employees and surrounding communities.
Romesh David, CEO of APM Terminals Laldia, described the groundbreaking as a promise turning into reality, characterising the development as delivering deeper water access, larger vessel capability, cleaner operations and a world-class gateway for Bangladeshi exporters while keeping the asset in Bangladeshi hands, representing a true partnership combining Danish expertise and investment with Bangladeshi ambition and a shared commitment to decarbonised, future-ready trade.
