The facility at Teesport, near Middlesbrough, will provide Asda with its first logistics operation in the Northeast.
Asda non-food director Tony Page said: 'This is great news for the economy in the Northeast. Not only are we creating 300 new jobs, but we are also paving the way for other retailers to follow our lead.'
The grocer estimates it will save 2 million road miles a year by shipping 70 per cent of its distribution direct to Teesport, rather than delivering it to southern ports and transporting it by road to northern depots.
Containers carrying products from a variety of international destinations will be delivered to the port, helping to ease congestion at southern container ports such as Felixstowe and Southampton.
PD Teesport managing director David Robinson said: 'We are clearly delighted to have secured the world's largest retailer as a major new customer. The presence of Asda will help us attract further deep sea container shipping lines to deliver via Teesport.'
Construction starts this week, with completion planned for February. Asda has signed a 30-year lease with an option to extend for a further 20 years.
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