Yangon harbors saw a surge in port activities in 2023, with 639 cargo ships of international shipping lines entering the area during the year.

This is a slight decrease from the 655 cargo ships that arrived in 2022, but still a remarkable achievement for the Myanmar Port Authority (MPA).

The MPA has been working to improve the waterway of the Kings Bank Channel, which allows vessels to access the Yangon Harbor area 24/7. After clearing the sandbanks, the MPA reported that the largest cargo ship ever to reach the port of Asia World arrived on June 22, 2023. The MV SITC Zhoming, from the Hong Kong-based SITC Shipping line, can carry 2698 cargo TEU and has a gross tonnage of 29231 tons.

The MPA expects the port activities to continue to grow in 2024, with 49 cargo ships of international shipping lines scheduled to arrive at Yangon harbors in January alone. The MPA hopes that the improved waterway will attract more large-scale cargo ships and boost the trade and economy of Myanmar.