BPHB INSULATED FROM US TARIFF IMPACT

KUCHING, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd (BPHB) remains largely insulated from the United States tariff measures due to its limited trade exposure to the American market, said president and group chief executive officer Datuk Ruslan Abdul Ghani.

He said the port’s trade flows are primarily concentrated in East Asia, particularly China and Japan, and selected European countries.

“We don’t actually trade with the US a lot. Most of the products, especially in Samalaju, for instance, are meant for the East, such as China and Japan,” he told reporters at the BPHB media appreciation night 2026 here last night.

While the direct impact of US tariff policies has been minimal, the port could face indirect effects should major trading partners such as China and Japan be significantly affected, he said.

“If China and Japan are affected by the US tariff, then obviously we will be affected. But so far, for the last year or so, we have not seen that great of an impact on us,” he said, adding that BPHB remains relatively protected under the current global trade environment.

Meanwhile, Ruslan said the port operator is accelerating its digital transformation agenda to enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness.

BPHB aims to become a fully digitalised port by 2030 and has implemented several key initiatives over the past three years, including smart gate systems and licence plate recognition technology, he said.

Ruslan said the port is also installing a state-of-the-art Port Operating System (POS), aligned with systems used at Shanghai’s Yangshan Phase 4 terminal, to deliver a fully integrated advanced operating platform for customers.

Additionally, marine management systems, enhanced closed-circuit television infrastructure and drone technology have been introduced to strengthen monitoring and operational capabilities, Ruslan said.

-- BERNAMA