PHNOM PENH, Jan 27 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodia’s two state-owned ports, Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS) and Phnom Penh Autonomous Port (PPAP), saw double-digit growth in revenue in 2021, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport said, in a report, today.
PAS, the kingdom’s largest seaport, earned gross revenue of 373 billion riels (about 93.2 million U.S. dollars) last year, up 17.6 percent year-on-year, said the report, released during the ministry’s annual conference.
The listed seaport handled 6.9 million tonnes of containerised cargoes last year, up six percent year-on-year, it added.
Meanwhile, the listed PPAP, the country’s second largest container hub, reported revenue of 138 billion riels (34.5 million U.S. dollars) last year, up 14 percent, year-on-year, the report said, adding, the freshwater port accommodated 4.2 million tonnes of containerised goods, up 13 percent.
Speaking at the ministry’s annual conference, Minister of Public Works and Transport, Sun Chanthol, attributed the surge in the ports’ revenue to the growing import-export activities, despite the impact of COVID-19.
“For the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, we’re going to build a new container terminal, with a depth of 14.5 metres, in order to accommodate larger ships,” he said.
Work on the new container terminal, in the first phase, is expected to start this year and to finish in 2025, he said, adding that, it is estimated to cost 220 million U.S. dollars.– NNN-AKP
