Sihanoukville: Minister of Public Works, Mr. Peng Ponea, has announced that the construction and expansion of the new deep-water container port in Sihanoukville will lead to a significant reduction in shipping costs, potentially exceeding $200 per container.

Minister Ponea shared this exciting development during the groundbreaking ceremony for the initial phase of the new deep-water container port on Friday morning, December 22, 2023, in Sihanoukville. He emphasized that once construction is completed and the port becomes operational, it will enable approximately 93% of ships in the area to dock at the facility. As a result, shipping expenses are anticipated to drop by approximately $200 per container, making them competitive with rates in neighboring countries.

"The pricing will align with that of other nations in the region," the Minister affirmed.

The first phase of this expansive project involves the construction of a 350-meter deep-water container port with a depth of 14.5 meters. This deep-sea port will accommodate container vessels with a capacity of up to 60,000 tons or 4,000 TEUs, facilitating shipping routes spanning the Asia-Pacific region to the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port. Upon its anticipated completion in 2026, the project will represent an investment of approximately $243 million USD.

This development is poised to enhance the total port capacity to approximately 1.25 million TEUs annually.