The Bangladesh interim government has approved a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement with APM Terminals BV, a Netherlands-based subsidiary of the multinational shipping giant Maersk Group, to design, finance, build, and run the Laldia Container Terminal (LCT) at Chattogram Port for 30 years.

Situated roughly 5 km nearer to the Bay of Bengal than the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT), the LCT will be able to accommodate vessels nearly twice as large as those currently handled at NCT, reducing reliance on transshipment hubs such as Colombo and Singapore. Its starting annual capacity will be 800,000 TEUs, with the potential to increase to 1 million TEUs through improved efficiency and technological enhancements.

APM Terminals plans to invest around US $550 million in the project. Once completed, the Laldia terminal will add more than 800,000 TEUs of annual handling capacity, easing congestion at existing ports and strengthening Chattogram’s position as a competitive regional gateway. Construction is set to begin in December 2025, with operations expected to commence in 2029. The terminal will remain fully owned by the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), while APM Terminals will serve as the exclusive operator. After 30 years, the facility will be handed back to CPA, with the option for a performance-based extension.