The move, first unveiled in November 2024, is a joint venture between Haiphong Port and SITC Logistics/SITC Dinh Vu Co., Ltd., focusing on warehousing and logistics services. The joint venture, named Smart Logistics Service, will operate across 10,000 square metres, and is expected to achieve revenue of $100 million per year.

This venture will strengthen the city’s logistics system, facilitate warehousing business activities, and support enterprises in DEEP C Haiphong 3 Industrial Zone (IZ).

The undertaking will boost Haiphong’s logistics system in various ways

SITC Group, headquartered in Hong Kong, is an infra-Asia shipping company, engaged in container shipping, ship management, ship brokerage, international freight forwarding, and more. To date, the company operates over 100 vessels and operates 75 service routes across 17 markets.

In terms of transport capacity, SITC ranks 13th among container shipping enterprises. It is currently developing warehousing businesses in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Africa.

Lach Huyen International Gateway Port, located adjacent to DEEP C Haiphong 3, is the largest deep-water seaport in northern Vietnam, capable of receiving ships with a capacity of up to 14,000 TEUs. In addition, the port is classified as an investment priority by the prime minister.

The Lach Huyen container port area is currently being exploited and investing in the construction of eight berths, of which berths 1 and 2 have been exploited since 2018 with a throughput capacity of about 1.5 million TEUs per year. Construction is underway for berths 3-6 (expected to be put into operation over the next few months) with a capacity of about three million TEUs per year. Construction procedures for berths 7 and 8 will follow, with about 1.5 million TEUs per year.

Lach Huyen Port currently handles 15 regular weekly services, including seven trans-pacific direct services to the US, three services to India, and other intra-Asia services. Thanks to that, the port has become a very convenient transit point for goods traded between northern Vietnam and countries worldwide, especially main import and export markets of America, Europe, and Asia.

In addition, to become a key maritime economic centre of the country, Haiphong has been focusing on investing in transport infrastructure, connecting major economic centres in the Red River Delta, IZs, urban areas, coastal areas, and seaports.

According to Nguyen Van Tung, Chairman of Haiphong People’s Committee, the city’s rearrangement of port operations in a suitable manner to realise the strategy of moving towards the sea is gradually cementing its transformation to adapt to the competition of the world’s maritime economy.

This will also be an important premise and driving force for Haiphong to move towards the goal of building a green, smart port city, a global maritime city, an economic connection centre and a development driving force for the Red River Delta and the entire northern region, as Party General Secretary To Lam directed during his visit to Haiphong in November 2024.

Lach Huyen Port plays a role in boosting industrial production development in the region thanks to its direct connection to key IZs. DEEP C Haiphong 3 is receiving special attention from investors, especially those who need to import and export components, raw materials and finished products in large quantities.

There is fast and convenient transportation of goods in and out of the factory, as well as easy access to the VinFast automobile manufacturing complex and other resources. The planning of the IZ also allows the construction of a seaport dedicated to manufacturing business in the IZ.

Koen Soenens, general sales and marketing director of DEEP C IZs, said that it is committed to sustainable development with the industrial symbiosis model that will be implemented in all IZs under its management and DEEP C Haiphong 3 is a testament to this commitment.

“This model promotes resource exchange and waste reduction at three levels: factory to factory, factory to industrial zone, and industrial zone to community,” Soenens said. “The preservation of Cat Hai town in DEEP C Haiphong 3 is a typical example of industrial symbiosis level 3. This initiative not only promotes sustainability, but also contributes to creating a workforce ready for future production activities for the zone.”

DEEP C Haiphong 3 IZ covers 520 hectares, of which 350ha is general industrial land and as many as 20ha is reserved for port infrastructure development.

Haiphong’s logistics network is planned to reach up to 2,000ha by 2030 and 2,200-2,500ha by 2040, including international and regional logistics centres in the Dinh Vu-Cat Hai area, city-level logistics, specialised logistics areas, and more.