Despite global challenges that have limited the growth of Indonesia’s export value, the Indonesia’s leading container terminal operator – PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas (SPTP) – has seen remarkable growth in its ocean-going container throughput in 2024. Notably, export throughput grew by double digits.
PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas, a leading container terminal operator, reported a 10.28% increase in international container traffic for 2024. A total of 3,995,525 TEUs of international containers were handled, compared to 3,623,006 TEUs in 2023.
Widyaswendra, Corporate Secretary of PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas, highlighted that this growth was observed in both export and import containers. Export containers in 2024 amounted to 2,060,679 TEUs, a 10.58% increase from 1,863,442 TEUs in 2023. Imports also saw a 9.96% increase, rising from 1,748,736 TEUs in 2023 to 1,922,855 TEUs in 2024. Additionally, transshipment containers grew from 10,827 TEUs in 2023 to 11,990 TEUs in 2024.
“Almost all container terminals within PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas that handle international or oceangoing trade saw growth, with notable increases at TPK Semarang and TPS Surabaya,” said Widyaswendra on Monday (10/02).
At TPK Semarang, international container traffic grew significantly due to increased ship calls from several shipping companies. For instance, SITC shipping experienced a 158% growth, Wan Hai grew by 142%, and Evergreen saw a 122% rise. TPK Semarang handled 766,913 TEUs in 2024, marking a 13% growth from 678,428 TEUs in 2023.
At TPS Surabaya, international container traffic grew by 9.65%, from 1,375,927 TEUs in 2023 to 1,508,743 TEUs in 2024. This was largely due to an increase in ship visits, which rose by 230 ships over the planned 192.
“In our Tanjung Priok 2 area, international container traffic also grew by 45%, from 387,798 TEUs in 2023 to 563,113 TEUs in 2024,” Widyaswendra added.
The Association of Indonesian Export Companies (GPEI) acknowledged that despite the challenges faced in 2024, Indonesian exporters continued to show growth. Citing data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), GPEI Secretary General Toto Dirgantoro noted that Indonesia’s export value in 2024 increased by approximately 3%.
Toto praised the growth in container volume reported by container terminals’ operator (SPTP). “Container volume growth typically outpaces national export value, as some export containers are used for repositioning,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Toto projected a 4% growth in export value for 2025, anticipating a higher increase in export container volume. “To support this growth, we hope Pelindo will develop one of its ports into a national hub. This would reduce the need for transshipment through Singapore or Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia, and ultimately lower export costs,” Toto added.
Indonesia’s positive export performance is also reflected in the volume handled by shipping companies. Ocean Network Express (ONE), a major Japanese shipping company, reported a 5-10% increase in export volume in 2024, translating to approximately 400,000 TEUs.
“We saw similar growth in imports, though the figures were slightly lower,” said Keishin Watanabe, President Director of PT Ocean Network Express Indonesia and Country Head of ONE in Indonesia. He expects Indonesia’s international trade flow to continue growing in the year ahead, although there are concerns that global container trade may experience a slight slowdown.
The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) had earlier reported that Indonesia’s total export value from January to December 2024 reached $264.7 billion, marking a 2.29% increase compared to 2023. Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, Acting Head of BPS, noted that non-oil and gas exports accounted for $248.83 billion of this total, reflecting a 2.46% increase.
As reported earlier, SPTP which operates key container terminals across Indonesia, has posted impressive performance in 2024, driven by a series of transformation efforts since the merger in 2021.
The total container throughput across all SPTP-managed terminals reached 12,489,927 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2024, reflecting a 7.1% year-on-year increase, from 11,661,489 TEUs in 2023. The breakdown includes 8,494,402 TEUs from domestic shipments and 3,995,525 TEUs from international trade.