JAKARTA INDONESIA (ISL News) — National economic activity showed positive signs in early 2026. This is reflected in the increasing movement of goods through ports, particularly container flows, which are an important indicator of national production, trade, consumption, investment, and distribution activities.
By April 2026, container throughput handled by PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero), or Pelindo, reached 6.42 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). This figure represents an increase of approximately 7 percent compared to the 5.99 million TEUs recorded in the same period last year.
This growth demonstrates that national logistics activity remains positive amidst global economic dynamics. Ports play a strategic role as key nodes in the national supply chain, serving as routes for the movement of raw materials, consumer goods, export commodities, and industrial capital goods.
Pelindo President Director Achmad Muchtasyar said the increase in container traffic stems not only from export-import activities but also from domestic goods distribution.
"This increase was supported by growth in the international segment, which rose by around 11 percent, with exports growing by 10 percent and imports by 12 percent. Meanwhile, domestic container traffic grew by around 4 percent, with unloading activity increasing by 5 percent and loading by 4 percent," Achmad said.
This condition indicates that Indonesia's foreign trade continues to run well, while inter-island distribution of goods remains strong, supporting public consumption and regional economic activity.
The increase in export and import flows reflects the resilience of Indonesian trade amid global uncertainty, including geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East and economic slowdowns in several countries. One contributing factor is Indonesia's trade structure, which remains predominantly intra-Asian, particularly with China and ASEAN.
In terms of national trade distribution, China and the ASEAN region account for approximately 46.2 percent of Indonesia's exports and 56.5 percent of its imports. This trade structure provides a cushion for Indonesia, as the majority of goods still move within regions with strong, stable, and integrated trade relations.
Positive Growth
According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), several container-based export commodities also recorded positive growth. These commodities include animal/vegetable fats and oils, which grew 7.95 percent; machinery and mechanical equipment, which grew 9.26 percent; electrical machinery and equipment, which grew 4.9 percent; and various chemical products, which grew 12.27 percent.
This export growth demonstrates that the processing industry and trade in value-added commodities are continuing. This is a positive sign for the sustainability of national manufacturing and trade activities.
Imports saw a 22.1 percent increase in machinery and mechanical equipment, followed by 17.91 percent in electrical machinery and equipment, 20.8 percent in optical instruments, and 36.31 percent in various chemical products. This import structure demonstrates the continued strong demand for capital goods, production machinery, industrial components, and manufacturing support materials. This trend is closely linked to investment activity, increased production capacity, and the national downstreaming agenda.
Container traffic growth was also seen at several major ports serving national exports and imports, including Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Tanjung Emas in Semarang, and Tanjung Perak in Surabaya. Loading and unloading activity at these major ports demonstrates that the national trade supply and distribution chain remains active.
The increase in international throughput at various major terminals also indicates strengthening logistics and trade activities in Indonesia's main industrial areas.
In domestic flows, the increase in goods distribution to eastern Indonesia is an important signal that economic activity is not confined to western Indonesia. Tanjung Priok Port recorded domestic growth of around 8 percent, driven in part by increased container shipments to ports in eastern Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Tanjung Perak Port grew by around 2 percent, supported by increased services to Makassar, Kendari, and Berau. Makassar Port also recorded growth of around 7 percent, supported by the movement of agricultural commodities such as rice, corn, and secondary crops, as economic activity in South Sulawesi and the surrounding region increased.
This growth in domestic flows aligns with the continued strength of household consumption and national manufacturing activity, the main pillars of the Indonesian economy. The continued growth in inter-island goods distribution demonstrates that national logistics connectivity is functioning effectively to support community needs, industrial activity, and economic equality across regions.
With this growing trend, strengthening port services is becoming increasingly crucial. Terminal productivity, service digitalization, equipment readiness, facility reliability, and national supply chain integration need to be continuously improved to ensure smooth, efficient, and competitive goods flows.
Reliable logistics connectivity is a crucial factor in supporting national economic growth, international trade, domestic distribution, investment, industrial downstreaming, and equitable distribution of economic activity across Indonesia.
Increase Capacity
Meanwhile, the Director General of Sea Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, Muhammad Masyhud, said that the government continues to encourage Port Business Entities to increase container capacity and services.
"One of the steps taken is the issuance of a technical recommendation for the designation of a container terminal for a facility previously holding multipurpose status. Subsequently, the terminal was designated as a container terminal by the Harbormaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) as the port operator, in accordance with the provisions of Minister of Transportation Regulation Number PM 50 of 2021 concerning Seaport Management," Masyhud said.
Between 2025 and April 2026, 12 terminal locations were designated, including the Port of Banten and the Port of Tanjung Emas in Semarang, as container terminals. The government has also established operational service performance standards, including container loading and unloading performance and equipment performance. These standards are periodically evaluated to ensure service quality is maintained.
On the other hand, the growth in container traffic is also being addressed through strengthening the development and modernization of national port infrastructure. In the 2025–2026 period, the government, along with state-owned port enterprises and with support from the state budget, will encourage increased capacity at existing ports through the development of container terminals, deepening of shipping channels, increasing berthing and stacking yard capacity, modernizing loading and unloading equipment, and accelerating the digitalization of port services.
Between 2025 and 2026, construction and rehabilitation of government-owned port facilities were carried out in 74 locations across Indonesia. This step is part of an effort to strengthen the hub and spoke port network, develop gathering and feeder ports in eastern Indonesia, integrate ports with industrial areas and downstream processing, and strengthen national logistics connectivity.
This infrastructure strengthening is also aimed at supporting intra-Asian trade growth and the national economic transformation agenda. With improved capacity and service quality, Indonesian ports are expected to be able to keep pace with the increasing flow of international and domestic containers, which is projected to continue growing in the coming years.
(ISL News Editorial Team/Pelindo Regional 2 Banten Public Relations). Pelindo Records 11% Growth in International Container Traffic, a Positive Sign for the Indonesian Economy
JAKARTA INDONESIA (ISL News) — National economic activity showed positive signs in early 2026. This is reflected in the increasing movement of goods through ports, particularly container flows, which are an important indicator of national production, trade, consumption, investment, and distribution activities.
By April 2026, container throughput handled by PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero), or Pelindo, reached 6.42 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). This figure represents an increase of approximately 7 percent compared to the 5.99 million TEUs recorded in the same period last year.
This growth demonstrates that national logistics activity remains positive amidst global economic dynamics. Ports play a strategic role as key nodes in the national supply chain, serving as routes for the movement of raw materials, consumer goods, export commodities, and industrial capital goods.
Pelindo President Director Achmad Muchtasyar said the increase in container traffic stems not only from export-import activities but also from domestic goods distribution.
"This increase was supported by growth in the international segment, which rose by around 11 percent, with exports growing by 10 percent and imports by 12 percent. Meanwhile, domestic container traffic grew by around 4 percent, with unloading activity increasing by 5 percent and loading by 4 percent," Achmad said.
This condition indicates that Indonesia's foreign trade continues to run well, while inter-island distribution of goods remains strong, supporting public consumption and regional economic activity.
The increase in export and import flows reflects the resilience of Indonesian trade amid global uncertainty, including geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East and economic slowdowns in several countries. One contributing factor is Indonesia's trade structure, which remains predominantly intra-Asian, particularly with China and ASEAN.
In terms of national trade distribution, China and the ASEAN region account for approximately 46.2 percent of Indonesia's exports and 56.5 percent of its imports. This trade structure provides a cushion for Indonesia, as the majority of goods still move within regions with strong, stable, and integrated trade relations.
Positive Growth
According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), several container-based export commodities also recorded positive growth. These commodities include animal/vegetable fats and oils, which grew 7.95 percent; machinery and mechanical equipment, which grew 9.26 percent; electrical machinery and equipment, which grew 4.9 percent; and various chemical products, which grew 12.27 percent.
This export growth demonstrates that the processing industry and trade in value-added commodities are continuing. This is a positive sign for the sustainability of national manufacturing and trade activities.
Imports saw a 22.1 percent increase in machinery and mechanical equipment, followed by 17.91 percent in electrical machinery and equipment, 20.8 percent in optical instruments, and 36.31 percent in various chemical products. This import structure demonstrates the continued strong demand for capital goods, production machinery, industrial components, and manufacturing support materials. This trend is closely linked to investment activity, increased production capacity, and the national downstreaming agenda.
Container traffic growth was also seen at several major ports serving national exports and imports, including Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Tanjung Emas in Semarang, and Tanjung Perak in Surabaya. Loading and unloading activity at these major ports demonstrates that the national trade supply and distribution chain remains active.
The increase in international throughput at various major terminals also indicates strengthening logistics and trade activities in Indonesia's main industrial areas.
In domestic flows, the increase in goods distribution to eastern Indonesia is an important signal that economic activity is not confined to western Indonesia. Tanjung Priok Port recorded domestic growth of around 8 percent, driven in part by increased container shipments to ports in eastern Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Tanjung Perak Port grew by around 2 percent, supported by increased services to Makassar, Kendari, and Berau. Makassar Port also recorded growth of around 7 percent, supported by the movement of agricultural commodities such as rice, corn, and secondary crops, as economic activity in South Sulawesi and the surrounding region increased.
This growth in domestic flows aligns with the continued strength of household consumption and national manufacturing activity, the main pillars of the Indonesian economy. The continued growth in inter-island goods distribution demonstrates that national logistics connectivity is functioning effectively to support community needs, industrial activity, and economic equality across regions.
With this growing trend, strengthening port services is becoming increasingly crucial. Terminal productivity, service digitalization, equipment readiness, facility reliability, and national supply chain integration need to be continuously improved to ensure smooth, efficient, and competitive goods flows.
Reliable logistics connectivity is a crucial factor in supporting national economic growth, international trade, domestic distribution, investment, industrial downstreaming, and equitable distribution of economic activity across Indonesia.
Increase Capacity
Meanwhile, the Director General of Sea Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, Muhammad Masyhud, said that the government continues to encourage Port Business Entities to increase container capacity and services.
"One of the steps taken is the issuance of a technical recommendation for the designation of a container terminal for a facility previously holding multipurpose status. Subsequently, the terminal was designated as a container terminal by the Harbormaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) as the port operator, in accordance with the provisions of Minister of Transportation Regulation Number PM 50 of 2021 concerning Seaport Management," Masyhud said.
Between 2025 and April 2026, 12 terminal locations were designated, including the Port of Banten and the Port of Tanjung Emas in Semarang, as container terminals. The government has also established operational service performance standards, including container loading and unloading performance and equipment performance. These standards are periodically evaluated to ensure service quality is maintained.
On the other hand, the growth in container traffic is also being addressed through strengthening the development and modernization of national port infrastructure. In the 2025–2026 period, the government, along with state-owned port enterprises and with support from the state budget, will encourage increased capacity at existing ports through the development of container terminals, deepening of shipping channels, increasing berthing and stacking yard capacity, modernizing loading and unloading equipment, and accelerating the digitalization of port services.
Between 2025 and 2026, construction and rehabilitation of government-owned port facilities were carried out in 74 locations across Indonesia. This step is part of an effort to strengthen the hub and spoke port network, develop gathering and feeder ports in eastern Indonesia, integrate ports with industrial areas and downstream processing, and strengthen national logistics connectivity.
This infrastructure strengthening is also aimed at supporting intra-Asian trade growth and the national economic transformation agenda. With improved capacity and service quality, Indonesian ports are expected to be able to keep pace with the increasing flow of international and domestic containers, which is projected to continue growing in the coming years.
(ISL News Editorial Team/Pelindo Regional 2 Banten Public Relations).
