Cat Lai Port at 115-120% Capacity Overload, Tightens Container Acceptance
Cat Lai Port operates at 115-120% design capacity, implementing policy to only accept containers 3 days before vessel ETA from June 1, 2025.
Tan Cang Cat Lai — Vietnam's largest container port handling approximately 50% of total southern container volume — is operating at 115-120% of design capacity, leading to vessel berthing delays of up to 48 hours.
To reduce congestion, from June 1, 2025, the port implements a new policy accepting containers only a maximum of 3 days before the vessel's expected time of arrival (ETA), down from the previous 5-7 days.
The overload situation reflects the strong growth of import-export activities in the south while highlighting the urgent need to develop additional satellite ports and distribute cargo flows to neighboring port clusters.
Long-term, new ports such as Phuoc An Port, Can Gio Port, and satellite logistics centers will help relieve pressure on Cat Lai, creating a more balanced cargo distribution system for the southern region.
