Container terminal operator PT Pelindo Terminal Petikemas (SPTP), through its Merauke Container Terminal (TPK Merauke), is strengthening equipment readiness and infrastructure capacity ahead of the Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 holiday period, anticipating a rise in container traffic and logistics demand in eastern Indonesia.
Terminal management has placed all operational personnel on standby, adjusting work schedules and manpower deployment to ensure uninterrupted loading and unloading services during the peak holiday season, when cargo volumes typically increase.
TPK Merauke Terminal Head Muhammad Rasul Irmadani said the terminal was accelerating maintenance and repair work to ensure all equipment operates optimally.
“We continue to optimise our equipment through preventive maintenance and gradual repairs to maintain service quality. Operating hours are also being adjusted to minimise potential queues and delays,” Rasul said.
He added that the terminal is also pursuing medium- to long-term capacity improvements, including expanding the container stacking yard and planning the installation of two rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs). These initiatives are part of the company’s long-term business plan, which also includes strengthening the dock structure.
Container traffic data indicates that volumes began rising in October 2025, driven largely by shipments from Surabaya, particularly staple goods and logistics supplies supporting year-end festivities.
“Container flows increased by about 21.7% from October to November 2025 compared with the January–September monthly average. This confirms an early surge ahead of the Christmas and New Year period,” Rasul said.
Shipping operators have also observed the upward trend. Bondan Wahyu Eko Hardianto, head of PT Tanto Intim Line’s Merauke branch, said container arrivals over the past two months had risen significantly.
“The actual number of containers entering Merauke has increased, indicating strong growth potential as we approach the holiday season,” he said.
Bondan noted, however, that operational adjustments would be critical, particularly in managing berth availability and container yard capacity, especially amid challenging weather conditions and specialised container stripping processes.
Terminal management said the combination of strengthened manpower, optimised equipment and expanded infrastructure would be key to maintaining smooth cargo flows, supporting logistics distribution and ensuring stable supplies across Papua and eastern Indonesia during the year-end period.