Logistics activity in Indonesia’s Central Java province is surging ahead of the Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 holidays, driven by rising import-export volumes through Tanjung Emas Port in Semarang, industry representatives said on Thursday.
The increase is already straining transport capacity, with demand for container trailer trucks nearing full bookings through early next year, according to the Indonesian Logistics and Forwarders Association (ALFI).
“Orders for container trailer trucks are already feeling fully booked until early next year,” Teguh Arif Handoko, chairman of ALFI’s Central Java chapter, told reporters in Semarang.
To prevent bottlenecks during the year-end peak season, ALFI has called on container depots, including off-port facilities supporting Tanjung Emas Port, to operate around the clock.
“We hope activities at Line 2 depots outside the port, which support export-import services at Tanjung Emas, can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Teguh said, adding that smooth logistics operations would require coordination among all stakeholders.
ALFI formally submitted the request in a letter to the Central Java Container Depot Association (ADEKI), citing the need to anticipate a spike in cargo flows during the holiday period. The association said overtime operations would be borne by logistics service users.
Industry players say the surge in logistics activity reflects Central Java’s growing appeal as an investment destination, particularly for manufacturing and industrial operations.
“Central Java is attracting strong interest from industrial investors, and that has directly increased logistics and supply chain movements,” Teguh said.
Central Java Governor Ahmad Lutfi echoed that view, saying the province had emerged as a competitive investment hub due to security stability, efficient licensing and a large, competitive workforce.
“Investment in Central Java has reached nearly 66.8 trillion rupiah,” Lutfi said during the inauguration of the Central Java leadership council of the Indonesian National Importers Association (GINSI) for the 2025–2030 period. “This is driven by a safe business environment and strong support for both foreign and domestic investors.”
Data from Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that Central Java’s imports from January to October 2025 were dominated by industrial raw materials, capital goods and consumer products. Key non-oil and gas imports included machinery, electrical equipment, textiles and plastic products, primarily from China, ASEAN countries, the United States, Hong Kong and Brazil.
Major export destinations from the province included the United States, Japan, China, the Netherlands and South Korea.
ALFI said extending depot operations to 24/7 would help accelerate loading and unloading of import-export containers, improve truck turnaround times and ease congestion, ensuring the smooth distribution of goods during the year-end holiday period.