LOKE: PORTS MUST BE READY TO HANDLE ADDITIONAL CONTAINERS AMID WEST ASIA TENSIONS

PORT KLANG, March 16 (Bernama) — All ports in Malaysia must be prepared to handle additional containers that may be delayed due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said proactive measures must be taken to prevent disruptions or congestion, particularly involving containers at port yards.

“Port Klang and other ports in the country must be ready to receive and handle additional containers that may be held up at other ports (following disruptions to maritime transport in the Strait of Hormuz due to the risk of war).

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“The Ministry of Transport (MOT) has, since last week, proactively held meetings with major port operators and all port authorities to ensure our ports remain in a state of readiness,” he said.

Loke said this in his speech at the opening of the Annex Building of the Port Klang Authority and the 2026 Chinese New Year celebration, as well as the Ramadan iftar event here today.

The minister said local ports could also take advantage of the situation to increase cargo handling that would normally pass through ports such as Jebel Ali Port, Khalifa Port, Port of Salalah and Port of Muscat.

“As such, I have directed that empty containers should not be stored at port yards but instead be transferred directly to depots outside the port.

“The Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) has also been instructed to ensure that depots outside the port operate 24 hours in line with port operating hours,” he said.

Meanwhile, Loke said that as of December 2025, Port Klang recorded total container handling of 15.14 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), representing a 3.4 per cent increase from 14.64 million TEUs in 2024.

He said with this achievement, Port Klang once again made history by recording the highest container throughput since it began operations in 1973, and is expected to maintain its 10th position in the World Container Port League.

“This year, I am informed that Port Klang is targeting a 1.5 per cent increase in container throughput, equivalent to 15.37 million TEUs.

“This target is considered realistic, supported by positive domestic economic growth, the development of infrastructure projects, cargo growth from the manufacturing and logistics sectors, as well as more trade-friendly government policies, particularly in the logistics sector,” he said.

In another development, Loke said the Cabinet recently approved the development of the third terminal at Port Klang in Pulau Carey, with the Selangor state government leading the development, while the MOT will act as the regulator.

He said the Selangor government will establish a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with private strategic partners to attract investment to build and operate the terminal.

Loke added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had emphasised that all relevant agencies must move quickly as the project is important to strengthen the national economy and enhance Malaysia’s competitiveness in the international port and logistics sector. 

-- BERNAMA