A bird’s-eye view of container-handling activities at the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port (PPAP). PPAP
The business operations of Phnom Penh Autonomous Port (PPAP) showed remarkable progress in 2024, with the volume of cargo vessels and containers passing through the port increasing by more than 20%. Meanwhile, the number of passengers passing through the port also rose, by over 40%.
A January 14 statement from the PPAP reported that in 2024, the number of cargo vessels that passed through the port was 4,894, an increase of 26.82% compared to 2023. The number of containers passed was 480,200 TEUs, up 21.19%, while cargo and gas-fuel shipments reached 4,806,654 tonnes, increasing by 15.91%.
Additionally, the number of passenger vessels passing through the port was 708, an increase of 24.87%, while the number of passengers reached 36,150, an increase of 43.73%.
The release added that in December 2024, 250 cargo vessels passed through, 13.12% more than in December 2023. The number of containers reached 43,361 TEUs, up 26.49%, while cargo and gas-fuel shipments amounted to 440,065 tonnes, increasing by 14.94%. The number of passenger vessels was 75, an increase of 20.97%, and the number of passengers reached 3,300, an increase of 16.57%.
Sin Chanthy, president of the Cambodian Logistics Association (CLA), told The Post on January 16 that cargo shipping activities at the port have increased significantly in the past 4-5 years.
He expected this positive trend to continue, especially once the Funan Techo Canal project is completed. The canal will serve as a waterway link between the PPAP and the seaport in Kampot province, as well as the international port in Sihanoukville province.
He explained that most of the goods passing through Phnom Penh Port are agricultural products, agro-products and manufactured goods.
He added that as Cambodia currently lacks a direct waterway link between the Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville ports, shipments from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville must pass through Vietnam.
“Phnom Penh Port has seen growth in both import-export cargo and passenger transport. This port will become even busier when the Funan Techo Canal opens, as more goods will need to be shipped from the central part of the country to the international port in Sihanoukville for export to international markets,” said Chanthy.
Chea Chandara, president of the Logistics and Supply Chain Business Association in Cambodia, noted that waterway transportation, especially for heavy goods, is very popular globally because it is a low-cost method with high capacity compared to land or air transport.
He added that if global, political and economic conditions do not face any significant challenges, shipping activities passing through Phnom Penh Port are expected to grow every year.
“In 2024, many investors opened factories in Cambodia to manufacture goods for export to international markets. Therefore, I believe that the transport sector in Cambodia, including Phnom Penh Autonomous Port, will improve in 2025 compared to 2024,” he said.
He also believed that the completion of the Funan Techo Canal would significantly increase the number of ships and containers passing through the Phnom Penh port.
The General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) reported that in 2024, Cambodia’s total imports and exports amounted to $54.74 billion, an increase of 16.9% over the $46.83 billion measured in the year prior. Exports were valued at $26.2 billion, up 15.7%, while imports reached $28.54 billion, an increase of 18%.
