Cambodia’s Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS) has completed approximately 77.15% of Phase 1 of its deep-water container terminal expansion as of the end of September 2026, marking progress on a major infrastructure project intended to strengthen the country’s maritime transport capacity and international trade connections. The port, which has been listed on the Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX) since 2017, is undergoing a three-phase development programme designed to accommodate increasingly larger vessels.
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According to a report published on October 16, 2026, the project is being implemented with the participation of construction firm TOA Corporation and project consultant Nippon Koei & Oriental Consultant Global JV.
Key Facts
Project: Sihanoukville Autonomous Port deep-water container terminal expansion.
Phase 1 progress: 77.15% complete at the end of September 2026.
Current port water depth: 13.5 metres.
Phase 1 target: 14.5 metres, scheduled for 2024–2027.
Phase 2 target: 16.5 metres, scheduled for 2026–2029.
Phase 3 target: 17.5 metres, scheduled for 2027–2030.
Construction company: TOA Corporation.
Project consultant: Nippon Koei & Oriental Consultant Global JV.
Stock market listing: PAS has been listed on the Cambodia Securities Exchange since 2017.
Phase 1 Construction Reaches 77.15%
The latest construction milestone was highlighted during a monthly meeting involving PAS officials, the construction contractor and the project consultant. The meeting was chaired by Ty Sakun, Deputy Director General in charge of Technical Affairs.
Participants reviewed the implementation of Phase 1 and the progress achieved by the end of September 2026. The reported completion rate of 77.15% indicates that the first stage of the expansion is substantially advanced, although the project remains under construction.
The development is intended to increase the port’s capacity to handle larger container vessels and strengthen Cambodia’s maritime transport infrastructure.
Phase 1 is scheduled to run from 2024 to 2027. Its principal depth target is 14.5 metres, compared with the port’s current reported water depth of 13.5 metres. The plan identifies vessels with a capacity of 60,000 tonnes as the target for this stage.
The latest report does not provide the remaining construction budget, detailed work schedule, projected cargo throughput or a revised completion date. These details will be important in assessing whether the project remains on schedule and how quickly the additional capacity can become operational.
Three-Phase Expansion to Accommodate Larger Vessels
Cambodia’s development plan for PAS consists of three overlapping phases, with progressively greater water depths intended to accommodate larger cargo ships.
| Development phase | Scheduled period | Target water depth | Reported vessel capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 2024–2027 | 14.5 metres | 60,000 tonnes |
| Phase 2 | 2026–2029 | 16.5 metres | 120,000 tonnes |
| Phase 3 | 2027–2030 | 17.5 metres | 160,000 tonnes |
The existing port has a reported water depth of 13.5 metres. If all three phases are completed as planned, the target depth would increase to 17.5 metres.
The schedule shows that Phase 2 is planned to begin before Phase 1’s scheduled completion, while Phase 3 is expected to overlap with Phase 2. This phased approach sets out a longer-term infrastructure programme rather than a single construction project.
The reported vessel capacities are those stated in the source report. Actual vessel access also depends on factors such as vessel dimensions, draft, navigational conditions and applicable port operating requirements.
Why Deep-Water Capacity Matters for Cambodia’s Trade?
PAS is a key maritime gateway for Cambodia’s import and export trade. Increasing its capacity to receive larger vessels could provide businesses with additional shipping options and strengthen the country’s links with international markets.
Deeper port access may allow larger vessels to call at the port, subject to navigational and operational requirements. This could expand the range of shipping services available to Cambodian importers and exporters.
Potential commercial benefits include:
Greater vessel access: Improved depth may enable the port to accommodate larger ships that meet its operating requirements.
Trade logistics development: Additional capacity could support the movement of imported materials, machinery, consumer products and exported goods.
Supply-chain flexibility: Expanded infrastructure may give shipping operators and cargo owners more options when planning maritime transport.
Investment potential: Improved port facilities could support industrial and logistics investment linked to Cambodia’s international trade.
National connectivity: A stronger maritime gateway could complement road, rail and air transport networks.
These are potential benefits rather than confirmed outcomes. The source report does not quantify expected reductions in shipping costs, changes in transit times or projected increases in cargo throughput.
The extent of the economic impact will depend on demand from shipping lines and cargo owners, port charges, operational efficiency and connections between the port and inland industrial centres.
Preah Sihanouk’s Role in Cambodia’s Transport Network
Preah Sihanouk Province has an important position in Cambodia’s transport and logistics network, with land, maritime and air connections supporting the movement of goods and passengers.
The province has three major international port facilities identified in the report:
Keo Phos International Port, also referred to as Oknha Mong Reththy Port.
Steung Hav International Port.
Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS).
These facilities contribute to the province’s maritime transport infrastructure and provide links between Cambodia and international destinations.
PAS’s deep-water expansion forms part of this broader infrastructure environment. However, the source does not provide comparative figures on cargo throughput, capacity or market share for the three ports. Their relative contributions to Cambodia’s overall maritime trade therefore cannot be quantified from the available information.
PAS and the Cambodia Securities Exchange
PAS has been listed on the Cambodia Securities Exchange since 2017, giving the port a presence in Cambodia’s public equity market.
The expansion is relevant to investors because major infrastructure projects can influence a port operator’s future operating capacity, capital requirements and long-term business prospects. However, construction progress alone does not establish the project’s financial return or its effect on the company’s share price.
Investors assessing PAS would need to consider additional information, including capital expenditure, financing arrangements, debt obligations, operating costs, port tariffs, cargo volumes and expected revenue from expanded facilities.
The latest construction report does not provide those financial details. It also does not establish whether the 77.15% completion figure translates into a particular earnings or valuation impact.
For market participants, official company disclosures and financial statements remain necessary to assess how the project may affect PAS’s financial performance.
Governor Says Completed Port Could Accommodate Nearly All Global Cargo Ships
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Governor Mang Sineth said at a recent provincial progress-review event that completing all three phases would enable PAS to accommodate nearly 100% of global cargo ships.
The statement highlights the ambition behind the expansion, particularly the planned increase in water depth to 17.5 metres.
However, the report does not provide the technical assessment or vessel-category data supporting the nearly 100% figure. The claim should therefore be understood as the governor’s stated expectation rather than an independently verified measure of the port’s future vessel compatibility.
Actual access would depend on the dimensions and draft of individual vessels, navigational conditions, port infrastructure and operating restrictions. Not all cargo ships have the same physical requirements.
Challenges to Monitor as Construction Continues
Although Phase 1 has reached 77.15% completion, several issues will determine how effectively the expansion translates into additional trade capacity.
Completing the remaining construction
The immediate priority is to finish Phase 1 within its scheduled 2024–2027 period. Subsequent progress updates should clarify remaining work, commissioning arrangements and readiness for commercial operations.
Coordinating overlapping development phases
Phases 2 and 3 are scheduled to overlap with earlier work. Coordinating construction, equipment installation and operational requirements will be important to delivering the wider programme.
Connecting port capacity with inland logistics
Deeper berths alone do not determine the efficiency of the entire supply chain. Road access, rail connections where available, cargo handling, customs processes and logistics facilities also affect the movement of goods between ports and businesses.
Demonstrating commercial benefits
The expansion’s long-term value will depend on whether shipping lines and cargo owners use the additional capacity. Future cargo volumes, vessel calls, port revenues and logistics costs will provide more concrete evidence of the project’s impact.
The source report does not provide forecasts for these indicators, so the scale of the eventual commercial benefits remains uncertain.
Angkor Times Analysis
PAS’s reported 77.15% completion rate marks an important stage in Cambodia’s effort to expand its maritime infrastructure. The three-phase programme sets out a clear progression from the existing 13.5-metre water depth to a planned 17.5 metres by the end of the final phase’s scheduled period in 2030.
For Cambodia’s trade-dependent businesses, the strategic question is whether greater port capacity will translate into more efficient and competitive logistics. Larger-vessel access could create additional options for shipping operators, but the economic result will depend on utilisation, service availability, port charges and connections to production and consumption centres.
For PAS as a CSX-listed company, investors will need to distinguish construction milestones from financial performance. The completion percentage confirms progress on the physical project, but it does not by itself establish the project’s profitability, financing risks or expected contribution to earnings.
The next important indicators will include the completion of Phase 1, the start and progress of subsequent phases, verified vessel-access specifications, cargo throughput and any disclosed changes in operating or financial performance.
If the expansion is completed and supported by efficient logistics operations, PAS could strengthen its role in Cambodia’s international trade network. The extent of that contribution, however, will become clearer only as the new facilities enter service and measurable operating results emerge.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much of the PAS deep-water expansion is complete?
Phase 1 was approximately 77.15% complete at the end of September 2026, according to the report published on October 16.
2. What is the current water depth at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port?
The port’s current reported water depth is 13.5 metres.
3. What is the target water depth for Phase 1?
Phase 1 is scheduled for 2024–2027 and targets a water depth of 14.5 metres, with a reported vessel capacity target of 60,000 tonnes.
4. What are the targets for Phases 2 and 3?
Phase 2, scheduled for 2026–2029, targets 16.5 metres and 120,000-tonne vessels. Phase 3, scheduled for 2027–2030, targets 17.5 metres and 160,000-tonne vessels.
5. Which companies are involved in the project?
TOA Corporation is identified as the construction firm, while Nippon Koei & Oriental Consultant Global JV is identified as the project consultant.
6. When is the entire expansion expected to be completed?
The schedule in the report places Phase 3 in the 2027–2030 period. A specific final completion date was not provided.
7. Is PAS listed on the Cambodia Securities Exchange?
Yes. According to the report, Sihanoukville Autonomous Port has been listed on the Cambodia Securities Exchange since 2017.
8. Will the expansion reduce Cambodia’s shipping costs?
The expansion is intended to improve maritime capacity and competitiveness, but the report does not provide quantified forecasts for shipping-cost reductions or transit-time savings. Those outcomes remain to be demonstrated.
Sources and Further Reading
Kampuchea Thmey, Rann Reuy — report published October 16, 2026, on the progress of the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port deep-water container terminal expansion.
Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS) — project progress information referenced in the source report.
Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX) — market information concerning PAS’s listing.