JAKARTA, The two years of President Prabowo Subianto's leadership have been a crucial opportunity for Indonesia to strengthen the foundations of the national economy, increase trade competitiveness, and drive the transformation of the logistics sector. In this context, the port sector plays a strategic role as a link between exports and imports, goods distribution, and national and international supply chains.
Based on container traffic performance data from PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero), or Pelindo, presented through September 2026, total container traffic reached 15.45 million TEUs, a 6.85% increase compared to the 14.46 million TEUs recorded in January–September 2025. This achievement demonstrates the growth of port activity and underscores the importance of logistics infrastructure in supporting Indonesian trade.
International Container Flow Grows Over 10 Percent
Pelindo's performance shows growth in two main segments: domestic and international. Domestic container flow increased from 7.71 million TEUs to 8.02 million TEUs, representing a growth of approximately 4.02%. Meanwhile, international container flow increased from 6.75 million TEUs to 7.43 million TEUs, representing a growth of approximately 10.07%.
The higher growth of the international segment demonstrates the increasingly important role of Indonesian ports in serving the movement of goods across borders. Amidst global trade competition, port capacity, operational efficiency, service quality, and inter-port connectivity are crucial factors in strengthening Indonesia's position within regional and global logistics networks.
Of the total container traffic from January to September 2026, the domestic segment contributed approximately 51.9%, while the international segment reached 48.1%. This composition illustrates the role of Indonesian ports as interregional distribution hubs and gateways to international trade.
Pelindo and the Transformation of the National Logistics Ecosystem
As a company that has a strategic role in national port management, Pelindo faces the challenge of ensuring that the growth of goods flow goes hand in hand with increased productivity, efficiency, service reliability, and logistics system integration.
Strengthening port connectivity from Sabang to Merauke is a crucial part of building a more integrated logistics system. This connectivity is expected to support more effective inter-island and inter-regional goods movement, streamline commodity distribution, and meet the needs of industry and the community.
Digital transformation, terminal capacity optimization, service integration, and strengthened coordination with all stakeholders are crucial elements in improving the quality of port services. These efforts must go hand in hand with improvements in safety, service certainty, and logistics cost efficiency.
Seven Strategic Factors Driving Growth
The growth of container flows is influenced by various interrelated factors, ranging from increasing exports and imports, additional routes and ship visits, industrial and economic region growth, increasing terminal capacity and service quality, development of national strategic projects, strengthening inter-island connectivity, to system integration and logistics efficiency.
Synergy between the government, port operators, business actors, shipping companies, the industrial sector, and other stakeholders is key to ensuring that this growth provides broader benefits to the national economy.
From a port management and logistics perspective, container flow performance is not solely related to increased loading and unloading volumes. This performance also needs to be viewed in conjunction with trade developments, industrial productivity, infrastructure capacity, service quality, and supply chain effectiveness.
Looking to the Future: Ports as Drivers of National Competitiveness
Entering the next phase of development, Indonesia's challenge is not only to increase the volume of goods flow, but also to build a logistics ecosystem that is increasingly competitive, integrated, and sustainable.
Ports must develop beyond simply berthing vessels and unloading containers. Ports must become hubs of economic growth capable of accelerating distribution, supporting industrialization, opening trade opportunities, and enhancing the competitiveness of Indonesian products in the international market.
Pelindo's container traffic growth figures through September 2026 provide a snapshot of the development of national port activities. This momentum needs to be strengthened through increased productivity, service innovation, connectivity development, digital transformation, and cross-sector collaboration.
President Prabowo Subianto's two years in office have provided momentum to continue the development agenda and strengthen Indonesia's competitiveness. Along the way, Pelindo plays a crucial role in supporting the smooth flow of trade, strengthening maritime connectivity, and improving the quality of national logistics services.
Ultimately, the success of the port sector is not only measured by the volume of container traffic handled, but also by its ability to create efficiency, strengthen inter-regional connectivity, support industrial activity, and provide added value to the national economy.
Strong ports, efficient logistics, and integrated connectivity are essential foundations for Indonesia to grow more competitively, expand its trade reach, and strengthen its position in the global economy.
Pelindo Connects the Nation, Drives Growth, Strengthens Indonesia.
* Author: Dr.(c). Novriansyah, ST.MM.CDM
Secretary General of the IPC TPK Workers Union*
