Netherlands-based APM Terminals has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sahathai Terminal (PORT) and MitrPhol Sugar to develop a new greenfield container terminal in Bangkok, Thailand.

The MoU is subject to the approval of relevant regulatory clearances and licenses.

PORT and MitrPhol Sugar joint venture (JV) Bangkok River Terminal (BRT) will develop the proposed 345,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) terminal.

Involvement of APM Terminals in the development of the terminal is expected to provide an additional boost to BRT, which was specifically established to develop the terminal.

Sahathai Terminal CEO Sauwakun Karuchit said: “In October 2018, PORT and MitrPhol established a new company named Bangkok River Terminal (BRT) to study the investment and to apply for the BOI supporting scheme.

“BRT strongly believes that APM Terminals’ rich experience in leading and setting up world-class terminals globally will be crucial to this project’s success.”

The new terminal is expected to support Thailand’s logistics and container shipping industry that is estimated to increase nearly 6%-7% every year.

“Once developed, we expect the terminal to play a critical role in lifting trade for Thailand.”

APM Terminals Inland Services Thailand managing director Maarten Degryse said: “Once developed, we expect the terminal to play a critical role in lifting trade for Thailand.

“It will not only deliver higher reliability for global customers, but also enable more efficient multi-modal transportation options for Thai shippers, thereby delivering ease of doing business and growing Thailand’s economy.”

APM Terminals, which is a part of AP Moller-Maersk, currently has operations in 76 ports and over 100 inland services locations across the globe.

In Thailand, the company operates container terminals in Lat Krabang and Laem Chabang.