Sihanoukville Port Reports 52 Percent Revenue Surge in First Quarter

PHNOM PENH, May 20, 2026 (KPT) — Sihanoukville Autonomous Port posted a sharp rise in business revenue and profit in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring its growing role as Cambodia’s main international gateway, Chairman and CEO Lou Kimchhun said Tuesday.

Revenue reached 174.3 billion riel (about US$42 million) in the three months to March, up 51.9 percent from a year earlier, while profit after tax surged more than 490 percent to 62.1 billion riel. Container throughput climbed 38.2 percent to 373,748 TEUs, with 495 vessels calling at the port, an increase of 13.8 percent. Vessel tonnage rose 34.2 percent to 7.9 million tons, reflecting a trend toward larger ships and deep‑draft vessels.

Kimchhun said the results highlight PAS’s competitiveness and investment appeal, noting earnings per share stood at 724 riel. He credited support from the Cambodian government, parent ministries and Japan for enabling expansion despite challenges including the closure of the Cambodia–Thailand border.

PAS is advancing a three‑phase container berth development project to accommodate larger vessels without depth constraints, aiming to cut freight costs and position itself as a regional logistics hub. The port is also investing in digital transformation, infrastructure upgrades and workforce training to enhance service quality and efficiency.

Kimchhun reaffirmed PAS’s commitment to contribute to Cambodia’s Vision 2050 of becoming a high‑income economy, while supporting national development, poverty reduction and community welfare.

The Asian Development Bank projects growth of 4.5 percent in 2026, supported by resilient manufacturing, with industrial output forecast to rise 7.3 percent. Growth is expected to strengthen to 5.0 percent in 2027 as external conditions improve. Agriculture is projected to expand 0.9 percent, while services may slow to 2.3 percent due to Thailand’s border closure.