Indonesia logistics experts call for land-side strengthening to match port growth

Experts warn that increasing container port capacity in Indonesia must be accompanied by strengthening land-based logistics nodes to prevent bottlenecks from shifting to the distribution chain.

Prof. Kuncoro Harto Widodo from the UGM Center for Transportation and Logistics Studies emphasizes that the growth in national container volume over the last five years requires better data integration and human resource development. He advocates for the optimization of the National Logistics Ecosystem (NLE) so that information flow can precede the movement of goods. Additionally, he suggests strengthening rail-based freight transport to mitigate issues with over-dimension over-load (ODOL) vehicles.

Logistics practitioner Wahyono Bimarso from ITL Trisakti notes that while Indonesian container terminals meet international standards, challenges arise once containers leave the port. He cites Merauke as an example where good port equipment is offset by a lack of storage yards or warehouses behind the port. Other industry figures suggest that improving berth capacity, channel depth, and the role of container depots as buffers is essential for maintaining supply chain efficiency.