Pelindo Reports 7% Rise in Container Throughput for January-April 2026

PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero), or Pelindo, reported container throughput of 6.42 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for January to April 2026, a 7% increase compared to 5.99 million TEUs in the same period last year. Pelindo’s President Director, Achmad Muchtasyar, stated that the container throughput was driven by export and import activities. ‘This growth was driven by an 11% increase in international segments, with exports rising 10% and imports up 12%,’ he said in a written statement on Friday, 29 May 2026. Domestic container movements rose 4% overall, with unloading activities increasing 5% and loading up 4%. Inter-island cargo distribution remained robust, supporting domestic consumption and regional economic activities alongside foreign trade. Muchtasyar noted that China and Southeast Asia accounted for 46.2% of Indonesia’s exports and 56.5% of imports. This trade structure provides a buffer for Indonesia as most cargo movements occur within regions with strong, stable, and integrated trading relationships. He added that the rise in export and import volumes reflects Indonesia’s trade resilience amid global uncertainties, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and economic slowdowns in several countries. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), containerised export commodities also showed growth, including animal and vegetable fats and oils (7.95%), mechanical machinery and equipment (9.26%), electrical machinery and equipment (4.9%), and various chemical products (12.27%). On the import side, increases were mainly seen in mechanical machinery and equipment (22.1%), electrical machinery and equipment (17.91%), optical instruments (20.8%), and various chemical products (36.31%). Muchtasyar noted container throughput growth at key ports serving national export and import activities, including Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Tanjung Emas in Semarang, and Tanjung Perak in Surabaya. ‘Loading and unloading activities at these major ports indicate that supply chains and national trade distribution remain active,’ he said. For domestic traffic, Tanjung Priok port recorded an 8% growth, driven by increased container shipments to eastern Indonesian ports. Tanjung Perak port grew 2%, supported by enhanced services to Makassar, Kendari, and Berau. Makassar port also saw a 7% increase, supported by agricultural commodities such as rice, corn, and other crops amid rising economic activity in South Sulawesi and surrounding areas.