Ports ownership in ASEAN: An overview

The ownership of ports in the ASEAN region has always been a topic of interest for many researchers and business analysts alike. The The ASEAN Secretariat region comprises ten countries, These countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Each with its unique set of economic and geographic circumstances.

As such, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to port ownership, and the ownership structure varies significantly from one port to another. In this article, we will delve further into the ownership of some of the most prominent ports in ASEAN.

Laem Chabang Port, Kingdom of Thailand

Laem Chabang is located in Chonburi province, Thailand, is one of the largest ports in the ASEAN region. The port is jointly owned by APM Terminal, HPH, PSA, and DP World. APM Terminal is a subsidiary of Maersk, the world's largest shipping company, while HPH is a subsidiary of Hutchison Port Holdings, a Hong Kong-based company. DP World is a Dubai-based port operator. The joint ownership structure of Laem Chabang allows for a more efficient and cost-effective operation of the port, as each of the owners brings its unique expertise and resources to the table.

Manila Port, The Philippines

The Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) and Tj Periok Port in Indonesia are owned by International Container Terminal Services Inc. ( ICTSI South Pacific ). The company is a global port operator with a presence in 18 countries, including the Philippines and Indonesia. ICTSI is a pioneer in the privatization of ports in the ASEAN region, having been awarded the contract to operate the MICT in 1988. Today, the MICT is one of the busiest ports in the Philippines, handling over 2.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containerized cargo annually.

Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia

Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), located in Gelang Patah, Johor, Malaysia, is owned by MMC Ports, a subsidiary of MMC Corporation Berhad. APM Terminals , a subsidiary of Maersk, also owns a stake in PTP. The port is strategically located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, making it an ideal transshipment hub for cargo bound for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. With a handling capacity of 12.5 million TEUs, PTP is one of the busiest ports in the region.

Other than PTP, also owns Northport, Penang Port, Tg Bruas, and Johor Port Berhad in Malaysia. The acquisition of these ports has allowed MMC Ports to expand its footprint in the ASEAN region and increase its competitiveness in the global port industry.

Tj. Priok, Indonesia

The New Priok Container Terminal 1 (NPCT1) in Jakarta, Indonesia, is jointly owned by NYK, a Japanese shipping company and Mitsui & Co Ltd a Japanese multinational conglomerate. NPCT1 is one of the newest and most technologically advanced ports in the ASEAN region, with a handling capacity of 1.5 million TEUs. Interesting to note that PSA has a stake in this terminal too.

PSA, Singapore

PSA Singapore , a Singaporean port operator, owns the entire terminal network in Singapore, including the port of Tanjong Pagar, Pasir Panjang,Keppel, Brani and the newly launched Tuas Terminal. The port of Singapore is the 2nd busiest and most efficient ports in the world, handling over 36 million TEUs annually. PSA via its subsidiary PSA International Pte Ltd is also a 20% co-owner of HIT with Hutchinson Port Holdings, the holding company who also owned 27.12% of Westports Malaysia in Port Klang. PSA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, a Singaporean Sovereign Fund company. PSA used to have a stake in Muara Port Brunei too

PELINDO, Indonesia

In Indonesia, most of the ports are owned and operated by state-run or local companies. However, the major ports are operated by Pelindo Multi Terminal (Indonesian Port Corporation), a state-owned enterprise that manages and operates 13 ports in the country. PELINDO has a monopoly on port services in Indonesia and is responsible for developing, managing, and maintaining the country's ports.

The ownership structure of ports in the ASEAN region varies significantly, with some ports being owned by multinational conglomerates, while others are state-run.