Pelindo: Container traffic at Belawan shows positive growth through May 2026

Medan (ANTARA) - State-owned port operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero), through its Pelindo Regional 1 Belawan unit, has reported positive growth in container traffic at Belawan Port in Medan, North Sumatra, through May 2026. Executive General Manager of Pelindo Regional 1 Belawan, Yusrizal, stated that the achievement reflects increased trade and goods distribution activity through Belawan Port, which serves as a primary logistics node in the North Sumatra region. He noted that container throughput at Belawan Port reached 531,200 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) through May 2026, a five percent increase compared to 505,800 TEUs in the same period the previous year. According to Yusrizal, the rise in container traffic was supported by strengthened shipping services and increased cargo delivery activity for both international and domestic segments. The increase in international container traffic was driven by enhanced shipping service connectivity through additional vessel calls, the arrival of several new shipping lines, and higher volumes from existing shipping lines. Meanwhile, domestic container growth was underpinned by increased volumes from a number of national shipping companies. He added that the positive performance was also supported by operational readiness, with Belawan Port equipped with six container cranes on the quay side and 12 rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes on the yard side. The RTG performance demonstrated good operational condition, with an average availability rate of 96.2 percent. These pieces of equipment play a role in supporting container loading and unloading activities, from vessel services to container handling in the stacking yard, Yusrizal explained. The positive performance of Belawan Port is also in line with North Sumatra’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth of 4.98 percent, with the trade sector growing 10.63 percent and the transportation and warehousing sector growing 8.52 percent. Meanwhile, Riau’s GRDP grew 4.89 percent, supported by improvements in the processing industry and trade sectors. As logistics activity increases, Pelindo is maintaining service management at Belawan Port to ensure it remains measured and adaptive to the dynamics of goods flow. Terminal operational support is also being continuously strengthened to accommodate the needs of service users as well as domestic and international trade activities. Belawan plays an important role in supporting logistics connectivity and regional economic growth. Therefore, Pelindo will continue to maintain smooth operations and the quality of port services to sustainably support trade and goods distribution needs, Yusrizal concluded.