THIRD-PARTY logistics provider Damco and Vietnamese warehouse owner HTM (Construction and Mechanic HTM, JSC) have opened a new warehouse in Haiphong, Vietnam, targeting fashion/retail customers who source there.

The HTM-Damco partnership will lead to the development of more than 20,000-square metres of warehousing in Vietnam over the next three years, said the Damco statement.

The new warehouse will enable Damco to play a dual role as a warehousing and distribution hub as well as being a way to attract customers trading to/from South China, which is a key focus of Damco's efforts in the north of Vietnam.

Based in Haiphong, the third largest city and northern Vietnam's and its most important seaport with its deep-water anchorage, the warehouse covers 8,000 square metres.

"It is built to very high international and C-TPAT standards, is well positioned to support increased volumes, and offers modern safety, security and fire-fighting systems," said Damco.

"The inauguration of the Damco Haiphong Warehouse is an important landmark in Damco's history in Vietnam, further consolidating the company's strategy in this country," said country manager Marco Civardi.

"Key for us also will be the growth of our domestic business such as customs clearance and trucking services, together with our planned warehousing footprint expansion. The latter is based on new business opportunities related to our business and contract logistics customers," said Mr Civardi.

Damco, as a Maersk unit, is a leading third party logistics providers specialising in customised freight forwarding and supply chain solutions. The company has 11,000 employees in more than 300 offices around the world and a presence in 100 countries.

Damco had revenues of US$3.2 billion in 2013, managed 2.8 million TEU of ocean freight and supply chain management volumes and air freighted more than 225,000 tonnes.