RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - State-owned seaport operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) reported that national container throughput reached 6.42 million TEUs in early 2026, marking a seven percent increase from the same period last year.

In 2025, container traffic stood at 5.99 million TEUs, underscoring steady growth in national trade activity. Pelindo President Director Achmad Muchtasyar said the expansion was driven primarily by international trade, with export and import segments outpacing domestic growth.

“International traffic rose about 11 percent in the first months of this year, with exports up 10 percent and imports climbing 12 percent,” Achmad noted in a statement issued in Jakarta on Friday, May 29, 2026.

He emphasized that the figures reflect the resilience of Indonesia’s trade sector, which continues to expand despite global economic pressures.

Pelindo highlighted that intra-Asia routes remain the backbone of Indonesia’s trade, with China and ASEAN dominating both export and import flows. Export growth was particularly strong in strategic industrial sectors, including chemicals, mechanical machinery, and electrical equipment.

On the import side, the sharpest increases were recorded in capital goods and industrial components, especially mechanical machinery and chemical products. This trend signals rising investment activity and the acceleration of industrial downstreaming, as demand for raw materials and machinery continues to grow.

Container traffic also expanded at Indonesia’s leading ports, with higher export-import activity at Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Emas, and Tanjung Perak. Domestic distribution to eastern Indonesia strengthened as well, with Makassar Port recording a 7 percent rise in shipments, driven largely by agricultural commodities such as rice and corn.

Director General of Sea Transportation Muhammad Masyhud affirmed that the government is intensifying efforts to strengthen port services, including accelerating the development of national container terminals.

“We continue to evaluate loading and unloading standards and port services nationwide. These measures are vital to maintaining the quality of Indonesia’s logistics system,” Masyhud said.

The government and state-owned port operators are currently developing facilities at 74 national ports, focusing on service digitalization and modernization of cargo-handling equipment.

Officials stress that infrastructure upgrades are essential to ensuring smooth supply chains, supporting intra-Asia trade growth, and bolstering industrial investment. (Diva Rifdah)