The world’s largest port projects are often viewed as a measure of future investment. This ranking tells a different story. More than half of its value has already reached execution.
Nine of the world’s 20 largest port construction projects are in execution, representing $74.58bn of the ranking’s $141.34bn total value. That puts 52.8% of the investment portfolio into active delivery, while the remaining $66.76bn sits across pre-planning, planning and pre-execution.
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The distinction becomes clear at the top of the table. Singapore’s Tuas Mega Port Development leads the ranking at $12.77bn, followed by South Korea’s Jinhae New Port at $11.73bn and Egypt’s Ras Gargoub Commercial Port at $9.71bn. All three are already in execution.
Together they account for $34.2bn, or 24.2% of the total value tracked. The largest projects are also among the most advanced.
A closer look at the ranking shows why project stage deserves as much attention as project value. Dawei Special Economic Zone’s Sea Port in Myanmar ranks fourth at $8.6bn but remains in pre-planning. Malaysia’s Westports Phase II Expansion follows closely behind at $8.35bn and is already in execution.
Only $249m separates the two schemes by value. From a delivery perspective, they sit in very different parts of the market.
The same pattern appears further down the list. China’s Yangshan Port Container Terminal, valued at $7.2bn, and Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Islamic Port Expansion at $6.75bn have both reached execution. Thailand’s Chumphon Port Development and Ranong Port Development, each valued at about $6.7bn, remain in pre-planning despite occupying similar positions in the ranking.
The projects outside execution still represent a substantial investment programme. Eleven schemes worth $66.76bn remain in planning or earlier stages, including Malaysia’s Carey Island Port Development, Vietnam’s Can Gio International Transshipment Port and Belgium’s Antwerp Port Extension.
Size remains important, but readiness provides the clearer guide to where activity is already taking place. Companies that treat project value and delivery stage as equal measures will draw a more accurate picture of today’s market than those following the top-line total alone.
Extracted and interpreted from a GlobalData report and project-tracking data. Figures and examples cited are attributed to GlobalData’s project pipeline insights.
To access the full report, visit the GlobalData Construction Intelligence Centre: www.globaldata.com/industries/construction.
