In 2025, Southeast Asia’s (SEA) ports and airports posted record volumes, rolled out major capacity expansion, and accelerated the shift towards greener, more digitalised operations. As trade flows rebounded and passenger demand surged across the region, ports and airports invested in new and upgraded infrastructure to ease congestion, future-proof supply chains and meet sustainability goals. The result was a year of rapid transformation, marking the transition to the next phase of growth.
Singapore
Singapore continued to set the pace in both the maritime and aviation sectors. In the maritime sector, the country achieved all-time highs across annual vessel arrival tonnage, container throughput, marine fuel sales and alternative bunker fuel volumes. Total vessel arrivals reached 3.22 billion gross tonnage, while container throughput climbed to 44.66 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), representing a year-on-year increase of 3.5 per cent and 8.6 per cent respectively. A major highlight of the year was Singapore’s leadership in sustainable shipping. In 2025, it established two new green and digital shipping corridors (GDSCs) with India in September 2025 and the Republic of Korea in November 2025, bringing the total number of GDSCs to nine.
Looking ahead, Singapore is preparing for the next phase of maritime transformation through new liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker licences, ammonia bunkering frameworks and plans for common emissions reporting and fuel trials along GDSC routes from 2026.
On the aviation front, Changi Airport recorded a landmark year. Passenger traffic reached nearly 70 million in 2025, a 3.4 per cent increase over 2024, while aircraft movements rose 2.2 per cent to 374,000. Airfreight throughput hit 2.08 million tonnes, up 4.5 per cent, marking one of Changi’s strongest cargo performances to date. A major revamp of Terminal 1 was completed in May 2025 and now offers double seating capacity. A groundbreaking ceremony in May 2025 marked the official start of construction for Terminal 5, the mega terminal expected to open in mid-2030. The first phase will handle around 50 million passengers per annum (mppa). Designed as a green mark platinum super low energy building, T5 will rely more heavily on clean energy.
Additionally, Singapore has emerged as a regional leader in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption, introducing a levy on departing passengers from 2026 to fund SAF procurement and planning mandatory blending of around 1 per cent from 2026, which will be raised to 3-5 per cent by 2030.
Indonesia
Indonesia’s logistics sector in 2025 was defined by scale, congestion management and forward-looking infrastructure development. The Port of Patimban, designed to alleviate congestion at the Port of Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, will have a capacity of 7.5 million TEUs upon full completion by 2027, making it one of the largest ports in Indonesia.
There was a significant increase in aviation capacity in 2025. A major expansion at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) in November 2025 saw the activation of Terminal 1C, lifting annual passenger capacity to approximately 96 mppa after extensive upgrades. Terminal 1F is expected to open in the first quarter of 2026 as a dedicated terminal for low-cost international flights. Further, the Nusantara International Airport, located in Indonesia’s new capital in East Kalimantan, entered its operational phase in June 2025 and full commercial passenger services are targeted for 2026. Indonesia is also advancing plans for North Bali Airport, which received presidential approval in July 2025, underscoring the country’s long-term aviation ambitions. Additionally, Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation has granted international status to 36 public airports nationwide to strengthen trade and tourism.
Thailand
Thailand made decisive progress in expanding both its port and airport infrastructure. At Laem Chabang deep sea port, the government advanced Phase 3 of the expansion, targeting an increase in container handling capacity from about 11 million TEUs to 18 million TEUs. New terminals are scheduled to become operational between 2027 and 2029. Private operators also played a key role. Hutchison Ports Thailand (HPT) received three new remote control super post-Panamax quay cranes at Terminal D in December 2025, bringing the total to 17. This final phase of Terminal D’s development enables the facility to handle three mega vessels and a feeder vessel simultaneously, with an operating capacity of 3.5 million TEUs. Map Ta Phut industrial port continued its Phase 3 build-out, with major dredging and land reclamation works completed mid-2025 to support petrochemical and LNG trade.
In aviation, Airports of Thailand (AOT) confirmed the THB 12 billion east expansion project at Suvarnabhumi airport, which will add 81,000 square metres of terminal space and raise capacity by 15 million passengers. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with completion by 2030. Plans are also moving ahead for a new South Terminal, which will eventually enable Suvarnabhumi to handle 120 mppa.
Other emerging gateways
Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Brunei reached important milestones in their aviation and port infrastructure.
There was strong growth in Malaysia’s port sector in 2025. Port Klang and the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) both set new container handling records, with annual growth rates of 3.4 per cent and 14 per cent respectively. The performance reinforced Malaysia’s position as a critical transhipment and gateway hub within SEA, benefiting from diversified trade lanes and strong hinterland connectivity.
The Philippines took a major step towards modernising its maritime infrastructure with the launch of construction for the New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP). The PhP 16.93 billion port will be built on 25 hectares of reclaimed land in Tayud, Consolacion, and is slated to open in the second quarter of 2028, with an annual handling capacity of 375,900 TEUs. In parallel, airports in Busuanga, Laoag, New Manila (Bulacan), Naga, Antique, Catbalogan, Dumaguete, Kalibo, Tacloban, Bukidnon, M’lang, and Zamboanga are currently at various stages of development.
In December 2025, the Long Thanh International Airport achieved a historic milestone as Vietnam Airlines’ flight touched down at the new hub, becoming the first passenger flight to arrive and officially inaugurating civil aviation operations at the airport.
In Cambodia, Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh officially opened in September 2025, replacing the former Phnom Penh International Airport and became fully operational by January 2026. Additionally, in September 2025, the Government of Cambodia gave in-principle approval to allocate nearly 2,000 hectares of land for the development of a proposed greenfield airport in Lumphat district, Ratanakiri province. The airport will span across 1,905 hectares, covering Thmey village, Chey Odom commune and Lumphat district.
In October 2025, the Government of Brunei introduced proposals to enhance key airport facilities, deploy advanced navigation and safety systems and investments to support sustainable operations – part of a broader vision under Brunei Vision 2035.
Building the backbone of regional growth
By 2025, SEA’s ports and airports were no longer focused solely on capacity expansion, but also on redefining how the region moves goods and people. Infrastructure governance reflected growing emphasis on resilience, efficiency and long-term competitiveness. At the same time, in aviation, SAF is emerging as a practical decarbonisation pathway, with early policy signals and adoption frameworks taking shape alongside airport expansion. As traffic volumes rise and trade patterns evolve, these developments are laying the foundation for the region’s next phase of growth.
