Vietnam emerges as hub for supply chain diversification: A.P. Moller - Maersk

The C+1 strategy refers to a supply chain approach in which businesses diversify sourcing or manufacturing by adding at least one additional country alongside their existing base in China, with the aim of mitigating risk and improving resilience.

Amid rising global uncertainty and ongoing manufacturing shifts tied to the C+1 trend, economies across the Mekong region are increasingly viewed as attractive alternatives in the broader restructuring of supply chains in Asia.

Vietnam, in particular, is seen by A.P. Moller - Maersk as a central player in this shift.

Speaking at the Connexions 2026 business conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, Kevin Stuart Burrell, managing director for the Mekong region at A.P. Moller - Maersk, said unprecedented global economic uncertainty is prompting companies to rethink their supply chain strategies.

He said tensions between the U.S. and China are accelerating adoption of the C+1 strategy, pushing companies that rely heavily on China to diversify production and distribution across multiple locations.

As a result, many firms are actively restructuring both production and logistics networks to reduce dependence on a single market.

Within this context, the Mekong region, which includes China, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam, is gaining attention as a destination for supply chain diversification, with Vietnam in particular seen as a key beneficiary of this shift.

“While risks remain, this region, particularly Vietnam, offers clear advantages for companies looking to establish production bases,” Burrell said.

From a transport perspective, he noted that the Mekong region benefits from strong intra-Asian trade flows while steadily improving connectivity with the United States and Europe.

Vietnam stands out due to its broad network of free trade agreements, which improves access to global markets, along with its rapidly expanding logistics infrastructure, including seaports and airports.

“We have invested US$80 million in a container port in Hai Phong and committed a further $1.7 billion to a project in Da Nang, reflecting our confidence in the potential of this market,” Burrell said.

With 35 years of presence in Vietnam, Maersk provides services across three main areas: ocean shipping, integrated logistics, and port operations.

In comments to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Silvia Ding, managing director for Greater China at A.P. Moller - Maersk, said the company is strengthening links between back-end logistics infrastructure and port systems to help businesses in Vietnam reduce costs and expand more efficiently into global markets.

Burrell also said Maersk is expanding its investment footprint beyond seaports into warehousing, road transport, and air freight capabilities to meet growing demand from companies operating in Vietnam.

He added that the Vietnamese government’s continued investment in infrastructure, particularly in transport, reflects a strong commitment to improving the country’s logistics capacity.

In line with Vietnam’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, logistics-related decarbonization solutions are also being introduced.

Burrell said the roll-out of electric truck operations in Vietnam is a pilot initiative aimed at reducing emissions in domestic transport while offering customers additional low-emission logistics options.