Pelindo I logged container traffic increasing by 10% in Q1
This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.
Investor Daily - Kuartal I, Pelindo I Catat Arus Peti Kemas Naik 10%
27 May 2021
By : Thresa Sandra Desfika
Jakarta - PT Pelabuhan Indonesia/Pelindo I (Persero) recorded 360,646 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of container traffic throughout the first quarter of 2021, which was 10% higher than the realisation in 2020 that reached 327,742 TEUs.
Pelindo I Corporate Secretary SVP, Basuki Soleh, explained that this increase in container traffic was caused by the international container movement in Belawan Container Terminal, Kuala Tanjung Multipurpose Terminal (KTMT), and the Pekanbaru branch throughout the first quarter of 2021 that reached 141,161 TEUs, which was 3.65% higher compared to the movement in 2020 that reached 136,196 TEUs.
“We are still in the Covid-19 pandemic that has yet to end. However, Pelindo I is optimistic about recording a continuous increase in loading and unloading traffic. Pelindo I’s strategy is to strengthen the marine service business, develop ports that are integrated with industrial estates, digitilise ports, [provide] integrated logistics services, as well as improve collaboration with strategic partners,” Basuki Soleh explained in his official statement on Wednesday(26/5).
Pelindo I served ships with a total capacity of 52.16 million gross tonnage (GT), which is 33.37% higher than last year’s capacity that reached 39.11 million GT. This increase is caused by the increase in cargo ships and containers in public ports, especially in branches of Belawan Port. Moreover, this increase is also caused by the increase in cargo ship visits (liquid bulk, dry bulk, and general cargo) in special terminals, served by Dumai, Batam, Tanjung Balai Karimun, Sei Pakning, and Pekanbaru branches of Pelindo I.
Basuki Soleh explained that, this year, Pelindo I is continuously accelerating the development of Kuala Tanjung Port and Industrial Estate (Kuala Tanjung PIE). One of the ways for acceleration is through various cooperation with strategic partners. Pelindo I with Port of Ritterdam and Zheijang Provincial Seaport Investment & Operation Group Co Ltd have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a cooperation term sheet for Kuala Tanjung PIE development project.
Pelindo I, Port of Rotterdam, and Zheijiang will cooperate in optimising KTMT and direct call shipping from Ningbo Zhoushan Port to Kuala Tanjung Port, as well as in developing the industrial estate in Kuala Tanjung that reaches 200 hectares (ha) in the first stage that is provided for industries from China. This cooperation with strategic partners with global logistics networks is Pelindo I’s step to realise Kuala Tanjung PIE becoming Indonesia’s Logistic and Supply Chain Hub.
Besides that, Basuki continued that Pelindo I, through its subsidiary PT Prima Pengembangan Kawasan (PPK), had signed an MoU with Union Resources & Engineering Co Ltd (UREC) to utilise land and infrastructure in Kuala Tanjung Industrial Estate. PPK will provide land and basic infrastructure to construct UREC’s nickel smelter in Kuala Tanjung Industrial Estate that will be built on a 100-ha area.
To support the company’s performance this year, Pelindo I will optimise services in Belawan Port by operating Belawan Container Terminal Phase 2 to meet the increasing customer demand.
Belawan Container Terminal Phase 2 has a dock spanning 350 metres with a 350 x 306 metre container yard that is fitted with modern loading and unloading equipment , such as four unites of ship to shore (STS) cranes, 12 units of automatic rubber tyred gantries (ARTGs), and 20 tractor terminals to support container loading and unloading activities that implement international standard operation and technology.
“Pelindo I is located at a strategic location facing Malacca Strait which is the busiest route in the world that is travelled through 25% of global trade commodities and is supported by strong hinterland in Sumatra. Pelindo I will optimise this strategic position to realise its vision of becoming Indonesia’s main gate to the global logistics network,” Basuki Soleh explained.
Meanwhile, the First Deputy of the Presidential Staff, Febry Calvin Tetelepta, recently revealed that the construction and the development of several ports in Indonesia had been and were continuously carried out, including for Pelindo I’s managed ports such as Kuala Tanjung Port. In the future, Febry said that the port could be an exit that rivalled ports in Singapore. However, it depends on the industries that will be developed in the port area. Hence, he encourages the construction of a toll gate and railway tracks in front of Kuala Tanjung Port so that land transportation connectivity can improve.
