TPK New Makassar has reported a significant rise in outbound cargo shipments from South Sulawesi between January and April 2025. This growth in volume has not only helped balance loading and unloading operations but has also led to a noticeable increase in ship calls at the terminal.
Several major shipping companies that regularly operate at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of TPK New Makassar confirmed a sharp uptick in outbound cargo, particularly in March and April.
“There was a significant volume increase at the start of the year, especially in March and April,” said Capt. Zulkifli Zahril, Branch Manager of PT Pelayaran Tempuran Emas (Temas) Makassar and Chairman of INSA (Indonesia National Shipowners Association) Makassar.
Zulkifli attributed the spike primarily to higher shipments of rice and corn from South Sulawesi to various regions across Indonesia—including Aceh, Medan, and Kupang. He believes this trend is closely linked to the government’s policy to reduce rice imports, boosting demand for local commodities such as South Sulawesi’s rice.
“South Sulawesi is one of the nation’s rice producers. With the cutback on imports, demand from other regions has surged, directly impacting our shipping volume,” he added.
This increase has benefited nearly all shipping companies operating in the region. Temas, for instance, saw an average monthly increase of 700 containers during the period.
Representatives from Pelayaran Meratus Santa also reported a similar trend, noting that several operators responded by increasing ship frequency to TPK New Makassar.
“We added three additional calls during that time,” Zulkifli said.
This surge marks a positive step for the regional logistics and inter-island trade sectors, reinforcing TPK New Makassar’s strategic role as a key distribution hub in eastern Indonesia.
Terminal Expansion and Growth Projections
TPK New Makassar Terminal Head, Teguh Firdaus, expressed optimism about future container handling performance, aiming to manage 769,000 TEUs in 2025 in line with the company’s target. TPK New Makassar operates under the Subholding Pelindo Terminal Petikemas (SPTP).
“We’re confident we’ll reach our 2025 target, representing a 3.5% increase over 2024,” Teguh said during a media visit on May 5, 2025.
In 2024, TPK New Makassar handled 743,321 TEUs, comprising 31,777 TEUs of international containers and 711,544 TEUs of domestic ones, up from 717,884 TEUs in 2023.
The terminal aims to balance activity between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, which currently account for 55% and 45% of container traffic, respectively, with a 50:50 distribution targeted soon. By 2027, container operations are expected to fully transition to Terminal 2.
Strengthening Its Role as Eastern Indonesia’s Port Hub
TPK New Makassar is also being positioned as a major domestic and international port hub for Eastern Indonesia. To support this, efforts are underway to develop facilities for export-import cargo consolidation.
“Since February 2025, we’ve implemented a Terminal Booking System (TBS) for trucks involved in cargo delivery and reception,” Teguh added.
Export commodities processed through the terminal include nickel, marble, seaweed, frozen fish, plywood, and cocoa beans, while imports consist mainly of electronics, frozen food, and mining supplies. Domestically, rice and cement dominate shipping volumes.
A global shipping line, SITC, now operates a weekly service from TPK New Makassar using a 2,000-TEU vessel. The terminal also serves domestic routes for major carriers such as SPIL, Temas Line, Tanto Intim Line, and Meratus.
During the media visit, guests were also shown the terminal’s planning and control center, followed by a field tour of the container yard.
Addressing Infrastructure Needs
Shipping companies in Makassar are urging upgrades to container loading and unloading equipment at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, due to the increasing size of container ships. Most now average 13 rows, which requires cranes with extended reach.
“We hope for upgraded equipment at TPK New Makassar to replace aging infrastructure. Container ships have evolved with more than 13 rows, so we need suitable equipment to handle them efficiently,” said Capt. Zulkifli, speaking to Logistiknews.id.
He emphasized that container traffic at TPK New Makassar showed strong growth in 2024 and is expected to continue, driven by agricultural shipments during the current harvest season for crops like corn and soybeans.
“Our goal is for the container market in Makassar to grow by at least 10% this year. Upgrading equipment would also help reduce congestion in the container yard,” he added.
Temas Line currently holds around 15% market share at TPK New Makassar and operates 15 vessels on routes including Makassar-Kupang, Makassar-Surabaya, and others.