On 30 August, APM Terminals, the port operations arm of Maersk, officially started constructing the Laldia Container Terminal in Chittagong, Bangladesh. This $555 million project is a significant collaboration between Bangladesh and Denmark, leveraging Danish expertise to modernize Bangladesh's trade infrastructure.

The terminal is being developed by APM Terminals, the Chittagong Port Authority, and local partner QNS Container Services Ltd. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by senior officials from both nations, highlighting the commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties.

Talks for the project began in 2021 with a Memorandum of Understanding between Bangladesh and Denmark. A concession agreement was signed on 17 November 2025, granting APM Terminals a 30-year operating concession, extendable based on performance metrics. This is the first instance in Bangladesh's port history where a private investor is fully responsible for design, financing, construction, and operation, while ownership of the port's assets remains with the government.

Despite delays caused by social unrest and worker protests, Bangladesh's interim government resolved to push the project forward in 2025. The terminal is expected to commence operations in 2030.

The Laldia Terminal will feature 616 metres of container quay, seven ship-to-shore cranes, 32 electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes, and 41 electric terminal tractors. It will accommodate vessels of up to 6,000 TEU, more than doubling the current capacity of 2,800 TEU. Due to its proximity to Shah Amanat International Airport, low-profile cranes will be used to meet aviation height restrictions. Once operational, the terminal will add over 800,000 TEU in annual handling capacity, alleviating congestion and improving supply chain reliability for export-driven industries like garments and textiles.

The project is expected to create over 1,000 jobs during construction and sustain 500 direct roles upon commissioning, with ripple effects across logistics and manufacturing sectors. APM Terminals will also provide training programs to upskill the local workforce.

Designed as one of Bangladesh's most sustainable terminals, Laldia will feature electrified equipment, solar power, and shore power infrastructure. It aligns with Bangladesh's climate goals, setting new standards for energy-efficient ports in South Asia. The terminal represents not only expanded capacity but a strategic evolution of Bangladesh's trade gateway.