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UNPARALLELED MARKET ACCESS

One of the key drivers behind Southeast Asia's ascendancy is the unparalleled market access granted by multilateral trade agreements like the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA). This comprehensive pact, which covers all 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has significantly reduced tariffs and other barriers, facilitating the seamless flow of goods across the region. 
The trade agreement has seen intra-ASEAN trade soar, as well as trade outside the region. EU imports from ASEAN countries grew from €79 billion in 2011 to an all-time high of €136 billion in 2021 – an increase of nearly three-quarters. And Southeast Asia’s merchandise exports grew over 10% annually on average between 2017 and 2021 – faster than the increase seen by the Asia Pacific region more broadly.
This is reflected in the growth we’re seeing as part of our significant presence in major ports like Laem Chabang, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila and Batangas, where we aim to provide integrated logistics solutions to customers across the region.
Growth has been particularly pronounced in sectors such as electronics, automotive and machinery, where Southeast Asian nations have emerged as major exporters.
Indonesia, for example, has seen its automotive industry develop significantly in recent years, emerging as a major production base for global automakers like Toyota, Honda and Suzuki. While much of this trade is with local partners, the country’s reach is expanding.
Electronics, meanwhile, represent Malaysia’s top export, valued at around RM600 billion ($135 billion) in 2022, up more than a fifth from 2021. DP World’s partnership with Sabah Ports in Sapangar will help support the country’s position, with plans to increase container handling capacity from 500,000 TEUs to 1.25 million TEUs by 2025.
ASEAN’s other key trading hub, Singapore, has a diversified export market and strong links with multiple countries thanks to a raft of trade agreements. It has one of the highest trade-to-GDP ratios in the world, showing the importance of trade to the country.