Hateco and APM Terminals plan rail freight network in Vietnam
Vietnam’s Hateco Group and APM Terminals, part of A.P. Moller–Maersk, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the investment, development and operation of a railway freight terminal network in Vietnam.
The agreement was signed on 20 October during the Vietnam–Denmark Business Forum in Denmark, attended by senior representatives of both countries. It extends the companies’ existing cooperation in container port infrastructure into rail freight and multimodal logistics.
According to information published by the Vietnamese government, the proposed projects carry a preliminary combined investment estimate of up to US$3.5 billion. The figure represents the potential scale of the developments under consideration rather than a final investment commitment.
Railway freight terminals planned for northern Vietnam
Under the MoU, Hateco and APM Terminals will jointly study the development and operation of a railway freight terminal in Hai Phong, including cargo handling facilities and storage yards.
The companies also intend to examine three additional potential railway cargo locations in northern Vietnam. The proposed network would connect industrial zones, manufacturing centres and logistics facilities with major transport hubs and seaports.
The facilities are envisaged to incorporate digital technologies for cargo management, storage, handling and transfers between transport modes. The partners expect the proposed infrastructure to support more efficient freight movements and provide additional rail transport options for importers and exporters.
The agreement remains at the study and proposal stage. Specific construction schedules, final investment commitments and operational launch dates have not been announced.
Partnership expands beyond container ports
The railway initiative builds on Hateco and APM Terminals’ existing cooperation in Vietnam’s port sector.
At Hai Phong, the two companies have collaborated on Hateco Hai Phong International Container Terminal (HHIT), located in the Lach Huyen port area. The terminal is designed to accommodate containerships with capacities of up to 18,000 TEU and support international container services.
Their cooperation also extends to the Lien Chieu container terminal project in Da Nang. The development is planned to include eight container berths with a projected annual handling capacity of approximately 5.7 million TEU.
The proposed railway freight network would broaden this relationship from maritime terminal infrastructure into inland cargo transport, potentially strengthening connections between Vietnam’s industrial centres and its international shipping gateways.
The new MoU establishes a framework for further studies and cooperation, while decisions on individual investments and implementation remain subject to subsequent development.
