JOHOR PORT EXPLORES BELAWAN – JOHOR TRADE CORRIDOR TO STRENGTHEN MALAYSIA – INDONESIA CONNECTIVITY
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JOHOR PORT EXPLORES BELAWAN – JOHOR TRADE CORRIDOR TO STRENGTHEN MALAYSIA – INDONESIA CONNECTIVITY
PASIR GUDANG, JOHOR, 6 October 2026 – Johor Port Berhad (Johor Port), a subsidiary of MMC Port Holdings Berhad (MMC Ports) and a member of the MMC Group is exploring opportunities with PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) Regional 1 Belawan to develop stronger maritime connectivity between Belawan, North Sumatra and Johor. The initiative aims to facilitate more efficient cargo movement, widen market access for businesses and strengthen trade linkages between Indonesia and Malaysia.
PASIR GUDANG, JOHOR, 6 October 2026 – Johor Port Berhad (Johor Port), a subsidiary of MMC Port Holdings Berhad (MMC Ports) and a member of the MMC Group is exploring opportunities with PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) Regional 1 Belawan to develop stronger maritime connectivity between Belawan, North Sumatra and Johor. The initiative aims to facilitate more efficient cargo movement, widen market access for businesses and strengthen trade linkages between Indonesia and Malaysia.
The potential connectivity was discussed during Johor Port’s visit to Belawan Port in early September 2026, held in conjunction with the Indonesia–Malaysia–Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) 2026 Program in Medan. The delegation was welcomed by Jonedi Ramli, Executive Director of Regional 1, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero), together with Yusrizal, Executive General Manager of Pelindo Regional 1 Belawan. Also present were Zulfan Ismaini, Head of KADIN Kota Dumai; Raj Nadarajan, Head of Container Commercial Department, Johor Port Berhad; Hanafi Ginting, Senior Manager of Transactions, BRI Regional Office Medan; as well as members of the business community and other participants.
The engagement enabled Johor Port to gain a deeper understanding of Belawan’s Port facilities, existing cargo flows and access to the Northern Sumatra hinterland. It also provided both ports and participating businesses with a platform to exchange perspectives on market demand, logistics requirements and potential areas for commercial cooperation.
Md Derick Basir, Chief Executive Officer of Johor Port Berhad, said the potential Belawan – Johor Trade Corridor reflects the importance of regional collaboration in creating new opportunities for businesses across both markets.
“This opportunity is more than about connecting the two ports. It is also about bringing businesses and markets closer together, creating more efficient pathways for trade and supporting stronger regional supply chains,” he said.
“Malaysia and Indonesia share strong economic and people-to-people ties. By working closely with Pelindo and industry stakeholders, we hope to identify practical opportunities that can strengthen connectivity between Northern Sumatra and Johor while delivering meaningful value to customers on both sides,” he added.
From Johor Port’s perspective, the focus is not only to introduce another shipping route, but to also develop a commercially sustainable trade corridor that responds to the actual needs of shippers, cargo owners and logistics providers.
Belawan serves as an important gateway to the Northern Sumatra hinterland, while Johor Port provides access to Johor, the wider Malaysian market and established regional shipping networks. A stronger connection between the two ports would provide businesses with more direct cargo flows and additional options for moving goods across the region.
The proposed Belawan–Johor connectivity would support cargo movements across a range of sectors, including manufacturing, consumer products, industrial cargo and other regional trade movements. It is aligned with Johor Port’s strategy to strengthen intra-Asia connectivity and extend its commercial reach beyond its immediate geographical hinterland.
Johor Port has been progressively developing links with Indonesian outports and other regional markets as part of its efforts to provide customers with broader routing options. Through this approach, Johor Port seeks to serve not only as a port of call but also as a commercial partner in developing reliable and efficient regional supply chains.
The discussions in Belawan also covered cargo potential, port services, logistics requirements and possible areas of commercial cooperation with additional future services contingent upon sufficient cargo demand, reliable operations and a commercially sustainable services structure.
Johor Port and Pelindo Regional 1 Belawan will continue to engage with the respective shipping lines, logistics providers, cargo owners and the wider business community to identify suitable cargo flows and potential shipping partners.
As a Multi-Purpose Port in Southern Johor, Johor Port handles Container, Dry Bulk, Break Bulk and Liquid Cargoes. Its Container Terminal recorded its highest-ever annual throughput of 1.08 million TEUs in 2025, demonstrating the port’s growing role in supporting Malaysia and regional trade.
Backed by its strategic location, the potential Belawan–Johor connection therefore forms part of a broader strategy to expand Johor Port’s commercial hinterland, strengthen regional connectivity and create additional routing options for Southeast Asian shippers.
The engagement also highlights the role of IMT-GT in bringing ports, businesses and logistics partners together to translate regional economic potential into practical trade opportunities. Through continued collaboration, Johor Port aims to contribute to stronger Malaysia – Indonesia trade connectivity and more integrated supply chains within the IMT-GT economic corridor.
Photo caption: Johor Port Berhad is exploring opportunities with PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) Regional 1 Belawan to develop stronger maritime connectivity between Belawan, North Sumatra and Johor.
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About Johor Port Berhad
Johor Port Berhad, a Member of MMC Group, is an integrated Multi-Purpose Port facility located at the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia providing a comprehensive range of port services to meet the individual needs of its customer. Commencing operation in 1977 as the original Southern Gateway Multi-Purpose Port in Malaysia, Johor Port currently operates a total area of 1,000 acres, 660 acres of which are designated as Free Zone.
Equipped with 24 berths and a total berthing length of 4.9 kilometres, the services and facilities within Johor Port include the Container Terminal, Bulk & Break Bulk Terminal, Liquid Terminal and Warehousing Facilities. As the 1st port in Malaysia to be accorded with Free Zone status, Johor Port is the appointed Free Zone Authority for the management of its Free Zone area.
As a Regional Commodity Hub, Johor Port is the world’s single largest Edible Oil Terminal and is one of the largest Hub in the region for LME cargo. Johor Port is also one of the largest discharging point for Rice and Cocoa in Malaysia as well as being one of the biggest terminals in Malaysia for Fertilizer and Cement.
For more information, please log on to http://www.johorport.com.my/
About MMC Corporation Berhad
MMC Corporation Berhad (“MMC”) is a leading utility and infrastructure group with diversified businesses under three core business divisions, namely Ports & Logistics, Utilities, and Engineering & Industrial Land Development.
MMC Ports is Malaysia’s largest port operator as well ASEAN’s largest private terminal operator with a volume handling of 18.4 million TEUs and 36.5 million FWTs as of 2024. Its key businesses under the Ports and Logistics division include operations and management of Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, Johor Port Berhad, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, Tanjung Bruas Port Sdn Bhd, SPT Services Sdn Bhd, Andaman Port Sdn Bhd, Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal Sdn Bhd, Port Klang Cruise Terminal Sdn Bhd and Langkawi Cruise Terminal Sdn Bhd.
Additionally, MMC’s Ports operations are supported by two integrated business logistics solution providers, namely Kontena Nasional Berhad and KTMB MMC Cargo Sdn Bhd. Internationally, MMC has a presence in Saudi Arabia via Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company Limited, a container port terminal within the Jeddah Islamic Port. The Group’s Ports & Logistics division also includes Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd, the operator of Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru, an emerging southern aviation hub and an important gateway to Iskandar Malaysia and Johor state.
Under the Utilities division, MMC is the single largest shareholder of both Malakoff Corporation Berhad, a sustainably driven multinational energy generation and environmental solutions company and Gas Malaysia Berhad, a total energy solutions provider. Malakoff is Malaysia’s largest Independent Power Producer (IPP), while its subsidiary, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, stands as the nation’s largest waste management company, handling an average of 1.1 million tonnes of waste annually. In addition, through Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad, we are a pioneer in wastewater recycling technology and a specialist in water treatment solutions. Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad is the largest operator of wastewater recycling facilities in Malaysia with a total built capacity of 18 MLD.
Under the Engineering & Industrial Land Development division, MMC’s Engineering business has played a leading role in the implementation and completion of the 51 km Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (“KVMRT”) Kajang Line, including the underground works package and the entire 57.7 km KVMRT Putrajaya Line. MMC has successfully delivered several notable civil and infrastructure projects including the 329 km Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Tracking Project, the innovative Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (“SMART”) Motorway (a first of its kind, dual-purpose tunnel), Langat Centralised Sewerage Treatment Plant, Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant and Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (“RAPID”) Pengerang Cogeneration Plant. It has also supported national food security through its involvement with MADA in developing infrastructure for the “Five (5) Seasons in Two (2) Years” paddy cultivation programme, aimed at boosting rice production through enhanced irrigation and agricultural systems.
The division also encompasses MMC Land Sdn Bhd, the holding company of Senai Airport City Sdn Bhd, Seaport Worldwide Sdn Bhd and Northern Technocity Sdn Bhd, which develops and manages approximately 5,300 acres of industrial development land in Johor and Kedah, namely Senai Airport City (“SAC”), Tanjung Bin Industrial Park (“TBIP”) in Iskandar Malaysia, and Northern Technocity (“NTC”) in Kulim, Kedah. The three (3) developments of SAC, TBIP and NTC provides ready platform and basic infrastructure, and is well connected to major expressway, seaports and airports, targeting clean and hi-tech multinational companies (MNCs), Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) & Domestic Direct Investment (DDI). To date, these developments have successfully secured approximately RM 7- 8 billion in FDI and DDI.
Enquiries
Johor Port Berhad
Corporate Communications Department, Johor Port Berhad
Tel: +607 253 5888
Email: jpb@johorport.com.my
MMC Corporations Berhad
MMC Corporations Berhad
Level 6, Wisma Budiman, Persiaran Raja Chulan,
50200, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +03 2071 1124
