Southeast Asia Strengthens Position as a Global Logistics Hub

Southeast Asia is rapidly expanding its role as a global logistics and manufacturing hub, driven by strong infrastructure development and rising foreign investment. Countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia have significantly upgraded ports, highways and industrial zones to support increasing trade volumes.

According to regional logistics authorities, container throughput in major ports like Ho Chi Minh, Port Klang and Singapore recorded double-digit growth in the last quarter of 2024. The growth is fueled by multinational companies shifting part of their production capacity to Southeast Asia as part of supply chain diversification strategies.

Logistics providers in the region are also accelerating digital transformation, adopting smart warehousing, automated sorting and cross-border e-commerce solutions. These advancements enhance efficiency and reduce handling costs for both exporters and importers.

Industry experts predict that Southeast Asia will continue to attract manufacturing and logistics companies in 2025, supported by competitive labor costs, improved customs procedures and strong regional connectivity under the RCEP agreement. As a result, demand for sea freight, air freight and cross-border trucking is expected to rise steadily throughout the year.