APM Terminals’ Cai Mep Transforming Vietnamese Ports

Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT) has been operational for only a year and despite having five competing terminals within the Cai Mep port area, CMIT will handle close to 600,000 TEU in 2012, representing 50% of the volumes currently moving through the port.

“Our productivity has already reached world-class levels regularly exceeding 40 crane moves per hour which shows how competitive Vietnamese ports can be” commented Steen Davidson, Managing Director of Cai Mep International Terminal.

Vietnam continues to play an important role in global sourcing with the leading brands of footwear, textiles and electronics selecting the country as a strategic, reliable location. Port infrastructure, accessibility and productivity strengthen the site selection attractiveness for global supply chains. CMIT’s management works closely with the import/export community to ensure high performance.

Reflecting the national focus on ports,  State President of Vietnam, H.E. Truong Tan Sang, led a delegation including President of Ba Ria-Vung Tau People’s Committee Mr. Tran Minh Sanh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Deputy Party Chief Mr. Nguyen Hong Linh, Vice Minister of Planning & Investment Mr. Nguyen Van Trung and several high ranking central and local officials for a visit to Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT) on 28^th June 2012 to see firsthand how the port is leading the country’s international ambitions.

“We are honored to host a visit by the State President, the Provincial Leaders and delegation. The shareholders have made a long-term investment in CMIT and we are here to stay in order to support the growth of Vietnam’s international trade” said Bui Van Trung, CMIT Chairman.

“Given the current surplus capacity in Cai Mep, terminal operators need to attract more transshipment volumes to Vietnamese ports to fuel future growth” Mr. Nguyen Xuan Ky, Commercial Director of CMIT stated.  “To achieve this, we need assistance from the government to make port charges more competitive with other Southeast Asian countries and this is a key message we shared with the President” he added.

Background on the Vietnam market

Located in Southeast Asia, and bordering China, Laos and Cambodia, Vietnam has 3,444 km (2,140 miles) of coastline on the Gulf of Thailand, the Gulf of Tonkin and the South China Sea. Slightly smaller in area than Finland, Vietnam has a population of 91.5 million. Vietnam has one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, expanding by 5.8% in 2011 to $121.6 billion USD. The IMF has forecast a 6.3% growth rate for 2012. Vietnam’s primary export markets are the USA, Japan and China, with China, South Korea and Japan the leading source of imports. Vietnam exports clothing, shoes and electronics, and imports machinery and equipment, and raw materials for export products.

Terminals in Ho Chi Minh City, on the Saigon River, and Cai Mep in southern Vietnam account for more than 60% of all Vietnamese container traffic, with a combined 4.3 million TEUs handled in 2010, representing growth of 10.8% over 2009. Cai Mep International Terminal (CMIT), in which APM Terminals is a shareholder, opened in March 2011. Located in the Ba Ria‐Vung Tau Province, southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, CMIT is currently the only terminal in Vietnam capable of accommodating larger deep-draft vessels. CMIT handled 186,000 TEUs in 2011.

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Source: apmterminals, July 6, 2012; Image: SGT