MMC PORTS TARGETS DIGITAL CONSOLIDATION AND OPERATIONAL RESILIENCE IN PIVOTAL 2026

By Harizah Hanim Mohamed

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 (Bernama) – MMC Ports Holdings Bhd, Malaysia’s largest port operator and manager of key transshipment hubs, will focus on executing targeted infrastructure upgrades and equipment enhancement programmes in 2026.

The initiatives, under its five-year Digital Blueprint Roadmap, include a comprehensive status quo assessment of infrastructure, systems, terminal layouts, automation, and data lifecycle management across all MMC Ports’ operating companies, marking 2026 as a strategic year for consolidation and modernisation.

The roadmap was crafted following its collaboration agreement with NIZE Technology Co. Ltd, the technology arm of Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG), in December 2025.

It aims for a comprehensive digital and smart port transformation, resulting in a unified digital foundation across the board.

MMC Ports chief executive officer Datuk Azman Shah Mohd Yusof said the target is to ensure all terminals, both container and conventional, align on a common technological baseline to create a seamless, interconnected ecosystem that supports the data-driven decision-making required for the next phase of MMC Ports’ growth.

“This focus on system-wide efficiency is already translating into measurable operating outcomes,” he said, adding that the move is expected to strengthen operational efficiency and resilience, which is vital to maintain competitiveness amid shifting global trade dynamics.

“This ensures we remain a competitive, preferred logistics hub in the region capable of absorbing the shifting tides of global trade dynamics,” Azman Shah told Bernama.

In an environment where scale, speed and resilience increasingly define port competitiveness, MMC Ports is aligning its systems with operating models already tested at global megahubs, he said.

The MMC Ports–NIZE Technology partnership signals MMC Ports’ adoption of the architectural framework that powers SIPG’s operations, a company whose Shanghai Port handled 50.56 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the first 11 months of 2025, up 6.7 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y).

SIPG, which exclusively operates all public terminals at the Port of Shanghai, is the largest port operator in mainland China and among the world’s largest listed port operators.

Shanghai’s Yangshan Deep Water Port led the record performance, handling 26.25 million TEUs in the first 11 months, up 9.7 per cent y-o-y, with full-year volumes expected to exceed 29 million, driven by technology-led industrial upgrading and automation that enhanced efficiency and capacity.

The scale of SIPG’s operations highlights the advanced environment that MMC Ports is creating to align with global best practices in port management.

Elaborating on the synergies of ports under the MMC umbrella, he said initiatives such as the group-level dashboard and digital twin are intended to provide holistic, real-time visibility across the entire portfolio.

“Ultimately, these tools enable the management team to make faster, informed decisions based on a unified and comprehensive operational view.

“The use of artificial intelligence in operations, particularly yard planning and equipment deployment, is the game-changer we are working towards,” said Azman Shah.

He emphasised that as MMC Ports expands its operations, standardising performance metrics is critical to ensuring reliable, world-class service standards across every touchpoint in the network.

“This commitment to transparency and operational discipline positions MMC Ports not only to navigate market complexities but also to deliver sustained long-term value to our shareholders and partners,” said Azman Shah, reflecting increasing expectations from global stakeholders in the infrastructure sector.

In 2025, MMC Ports’ network achieved its strongest performance to date by surpassing 20 million TEUs in container throughput.

The milestone was driven by Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd (PTP), which exceeded the 13 million and 14 million TEUs mark, becoming the first single Malaysian port to do so.

This was followed by Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, which posted its highest annual container throughput of 3.80 million TEUs and its highest conventional cargo throughput at 12.90 million freight weight tonnes.

Beyond the two main container hubs, Johor Port Bhd recorded its highest annual container volume of 1.08 million TEUs, while Penang Port Sdn Bhd saw ferry passenger ridership rise to 3.13 million in 2025, up from 2.87 million in 2024.

Meanwhile, Tanjung Bruas Port Sdn Bhd recorded its highest container throughput of 31,032 TEUs since introducing container handling in 2019.

-- BERNAMA