The expansion of Suao port has two purposes: to relieve congestion at Keelung and to promote development of the Ilan area. It will combine the four small ports on the northeast coast--Suao, Keelung, Patoutse and Shenao--to push the development of this area and improve the transportation of the northern island.
蘇澳港擴建的目的有二：一為分擔基隆港的負荷，一為發展宜蘭地區的建設，計畫將蘇澳港、基隆港、八斗子漁港、蘇澳油港等四個台灣東北部沿海地區的港口，聯成一氣，不但可以帶動蘭陽平原的開發，並且使得北部地區物資對外的吞吐，暢通無阻。