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19 August 2021, Gateway House

China’s ports in the Indian Ocean

China is rapidly expanding its influence in the Indian Ocean Region, as its massive investment in ports starts to materialise. From smaller investments of $78 million in Djibouti to large ones like $1.6 billion in Gwadar, these are funded largely by Chinese state-owned enterprises. This infographic shows the 17 ports being built by China, which are now important strategic, economic and political outposts for the country.

Former Researcher

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On August 9, with India as president of the United Nations Security Council, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level debate on strengthening maritime security through cooperation. Modi called for maritime connectivity whilst being cognisant of ‘the physical sustainability and absorption capacity of the countries’ where infrastructure projects are developed.[1]

The reference to China’s expansionist maritime role was clear. Especially as it is focused on India’s back yard, the Indian Ocean.

The Indian Ocean region (IOR) holds a significant place in China’s Maritime Silk Road initiative. The IOR accounts for 80% of China’s energy imports and is essential for China’s trade activities, making it a strategically and economically significant geography. For the past three decades, Chinese investment and construction activity in the IOR has increased. Ports, in this context, have become important sites of strategic, economic and political investments for China.

The map above shows 17 ports in the IOR, which have some degree of Chinese involvement. This involvement ranges from massive projects like the deep water ports and terminals at Gwadar and Lamu to construction of smaller terminals like the Livestock Terminal at Port Sudan.

China is directly involved in the construction of 13 of them, through Chinese companies, which are contracted to build the ports and its related infrastructure. The project costs are moderate to extravagant –  from $78 million for Djibouti to $1.6 billion for Gwadar in Pakistan.

Besides being port contractors, Chinese companies have direct financial involvement in eight projects, in the form of debt or equity. For instance, Hong Kong-headquartered CMPorts has acquired stakes in the operation of ports like the Doraleh Multipurpose Port in Djibouti, and other Chinese companies have signed concession agreements to lease ports or terminals in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia and the UAE.

The primary actors in the maritime construction and investment domain are Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs). All but one of the 17 port projects in the IOR are associated with giant Chinese SOEs like CMPorts and China Communication Construction Company. The CSP Terminal at the Khalifa Port near Abu Dhabi is one such, where Chinese shipping giant COSCO has invested $300 million in the terminal which is now an important trade hub along the Maritime Silk Road.[2]

Many countries in which China is constructing ports, are already indebted to China. Kenya, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Djibouti have significant Chinese debt – over 27% of all external debt in Pakistan is owed to China.[3] The concerns over their becoming debt traps is well-known. The trade-off for China: debt gives Chinese companies strategic leverage, enabling them to lease the ports, as in the case of Hambantota, where CMPorts has acquired an 85% stake and leased the port for 99 years.

DETAILS OF PORTS
Port Country Status Cost of Project($ millions) Contractor Funder
Lamu Port Kenya Under Construction 689 China Communications Construction Company ●      World Bank
Mombasa Port Kenya Under Construction 400 China Communications Construction Company ●      Kenya Government
Bagamoyo Port Tanzania Stalled 10000 NA
Dar es Salaam Port Tanzania Under Construction 154 China Harbour Engineering Company ●      World Bank
Doraleh Multipurpose Port Djibouti Completed 590 China State Construction Engineering Corporation ●      Financed by loan from China Exim Bank●      23.5% stake in port operation
Sudan Port Sudan Completed 100 China Harbour Engineering Company ●      49% ownership of port
CSP Terminal, Khalifa Port U.A.E. Completed 300 China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) ●      $400 million investment from COSCO●      35-year concession agreement
Sokhna Port Egypt Completed 520 China Harbour Engineering Company NA
Gwadar Deepwater Port Pakistan Completed 1620 China Overseas Ports Holding Company ●      Investment financing●      40-year concession agreement
Karachi Deepwater Terminal Pakistan Completed 550 China Harbour Engineering Company NA
Hambantota Port Sri Lanka Completed 1500 China Merchants Port Holdings ●      99-year concession agreement for $1.12 billion●      85% ownership share
CICT Terminal Colombo Sri Lanka Completed 500 China Merchants Port Holdings ●      35-year concession agreement
Chittagong Port Bangladesh NA NA China Communications Construction Company NA
Payra Port Bangladesh Planned 600 China Harbour Engineering Company NA
Kyaukpyu Port Myanmar Planned 1300 ChinaPower NA
Malacca Port Malaysia Cancelled 10500 NA NA
Darwin Port Australia Completed 390 No ●      99-year lease for $390 million
Sources: Government Documents and Websites, Company Annual Reports and Port Authority Websites.

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Saeed Faridi is Research Intern, Gateway House.

Designed by Debarpan Das.

This infographic was exclusively developed for Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. You can read more exclusive content here.

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References:

[1]https://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/34151/English_translation_of_Prime_Ministers_remarks_at_the_UNSC_HighLevel_Open_Debate_on_Enhancing_Maritime_Security_A_Case_For_International_Cooperation_A

[2]https://www.adports.ae/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/CSP-FACT-SHEET-dec-2018.pdf

[3]https://www.usip.org/publications/2021/05/pakistans-growing-problem-its-china-economic-corridor

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