Growth in international container traffic through Indonesian ports accelerated in the first four months of 2026, offering fresh evidence that Southeast Asia’s largest economy continues to benefit from resilient trade flows and steady domestic demand despite ongoing global economic uncertainty.
State-owned port operator Pelindo handled 6.42 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) between January and April, up about 7% from 5.99 million TEUs during the same period a year earlier.
The increase was driven primarily by international cargo movements, which rose around 11%, underscoring the strength of Indonesia’s export-import activity and the country’s role within regional supply chains.
“This increase was supported by growth in the international segment, with exports rising around 10% and imports increasing about 12%,” Pelindo President Director Achmad Muchtasyar said.
Domestic container traffic also expanded by roughly 4%, supported by growth in both loading and unloading activities, he added.
The performance comes as global trade faces challenges ranging from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East to slowing economic growth in several major economies. Indonesia, however, continues to benefit from strong trade links within Asia, particularly with China and ASEAN countries.
According to national trade data, China and ASEAN account for roughly 46.2% of Indonesia’s exports and 56.5% of its imports, providing a relatively stable foundation for trade activity compared with markets more exposed to economic volatility elsewhere.
Export growth was supported by several key containerized commodities. Data from Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) showed shipments of animal and vegetable fats and oils rose 7.95%, machinery and mechanical equipment increased 9.26%, electrical machinery climbed 4.9%, and chemical products advanced 12.27%.
The figures point to continued activity in manufacturing and value-added processing industries, sectors viewed as central to Indonesia’s long-term industrial development strategy.
Import growth also reflected expanding industrial activity. Imports of machinery and mechanical equipment increased 22.1%, electrical machinery rose 17.91%, optical instruments gained 20.8%, and chemical products surged 36.31%.
Economists often view rising imports of capital goods and industrial materials as an indicator of investment and future production growth, particularly as Indonesia pushes ahead with its downstream processing and industrialization agenda.
Traffic growth was recorded at several major ports, including Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Tanjung Emas in Semarang and Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, highlighting continued momentum in the country’s logistics and manufacturing sectors.
Domestic Remians Strong
Domestic cargo movements also remained strong, particularly toward eastern Indonesia. Tanjung Priok posted domestic container growth of about 8%, partly driven by increased shipments to eastern regions. Tanjung Perak recorded growth of around 2%, while Makassar expanded about 7%, supported by agricultural commodity flows and strengthening regional economic activity.
The trend suggests that economic growth is becoming more geographically dispersed, supported by improving inter-island connectivity and logistics networks.
To accommodate rising demand, the government is continuing efforts to expand container handling capacity and improve port performance.
Director General of Sea Transportation Muhammad Masyhud said authorities have accelerated the designation of dedicated container terminals at facilities previously classified as multipurpose terminals. Between 2025 and April 2026, 12 terminal locations, including facilities at Banten and Tanjung Emas, were formally designated as container terminals.
The government has also introduced operational performance standards covering container handling and equipment productivity, while pursuing infrastructure upgrades across the national port network.
Between 2025 and 2026, construction and rehabilitation projects were carried out at 74 government-owned port facilities nationwide. The investments include terminal expansion, channel deepening, increased yard capacity, modernization of cargo-handling equipment, and wider digitalization of port services.
Officials say the upgrades are intended to strengthen Indonesia’s logistics connectivity, support growing intra-Asian trade flows, and ensure ports can accommodate rising international and domestic container volumes in the years ahead.