Terminal Petikemas Koja (TPK Koja), one of key container terminal in Indonesia’s export import, is urging employees to embrace innovation and internal cohesion as global trade headwinds and domestic competition mount.
Speaking at its 2025 Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday at Pelindo Tower in Jakarta, TPK Koja General Manager Ali Mulyono said the company must transform external challenges into growth opportunities, while strengthening trust and communication between management and staff.
“Despite our strong 2024 performance, we cannot grow complacent. The landscape ahead is shifting, and we must innovate to stay ahead,” Ali said.
TPK Koja, a joint venture between state-owned port operator Pelindo and Hong Kong-based Hutchison Ports, handled 1.03 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last year, up 9.03% from internal targets and 7.1% from 2023.
The increase was partially driven by the diversion of 80 ad hoc vessels from the nearby Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT), adding more than 211,000 TEUs, said Nuryono Arif, Deputy General Manager for Operation.
Profit Surges
Unaudited financials show TPK Koja booked IDR 377.33 billion in net profit for 2024, up 65.1% from budget projections. Revenue rose 9.56% year-on-year to IDR 1.82 trillion, buoyed by tighter cost controls and favorable foreign exchange movements.
“We kept spending below target, particularly in labor and equipment, while also managing personnel costs via an early retirement program,” said TRY Junaedi, DGM Finance and Risk Management.
However, he warned that some deferred expenses would impact 2025, underlining the need for continued fiscal discipline.
Looking ahead, executives flagged rising trade protectionism and domestic port competition as key risks. New U.S. tariffs on Indonesian exports, ranging from electronics to palm oil, could dampen volumes in Indonesia’s largest export market.
Indonesia has enjoyed a U.S. trade surplus for two decades. That status is under pressure in view of the new tariff initiated by US President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, domestic competition is intensifying with the expansion of New Priok Container Terminal 2 (NPCT2), which is expected to draw traffic from Tanjung Priok, where TPK Koja is located. The terminal is also grappling with aging infrastructure.
“We see this as a chance to innovate and sharpen our service edge,” Ali said.
Infrastructure Investment, Labor Harmony in Focus
TPK Koja plans to modernize operations with the delivery of three quay container cranes and four rubber-tyred gantry cranes by November 2025. However, management emphasized that hardware upgrades must be matched by strong internal cohesion.
Modern systems are only as effective as the people who operate them. The Town Hall Meeting calls for unity and shared purpose.
Usman Sahroni, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, called for dispute resolution through dialogue rather than legal action, warning that internal discord could erode operational performance.
Growth Opportunities
The terminal has secured two additional shipping services for 2025, including one previously served by NPCT1. While this expansion offers upside potential, management cautioned that increased volume comes with heightened expectations.
“Customer trust hinges on reliability,” said Nuryono Arief. “Ad hoc traffic helped us grow last year, but sustainable success depends on consistent performance,” he said further.
As TPK Koja enters a new phase of investment and navigates an increasingly volatile trade environment, its leadership continues to push for a culture of adaptability and innovation.
“Our future depends not only on strategy, but on mindset, hard work, gratitude, and continuous improvement,” Ali said.