Pelindo Designs Direct Call from Belawan to India

PT Pelabuhan Indonesia Persero (Pelindo) together with the INA (Indonesia Investment Authority) consortium are currently planning direct shipments (direct calls) from Belawan Port to a number of countries, in stages. One of the countries being targeted is India.

India was chosen as one of the priority destinations because of its great potential and strategic position as the gateway to South Asia. So far, the value and volume of trade between Indonesia and India has also continued to increase.

Trade data from the United Nations (UN Comtrade) noted that the value of trade between the two countries in 2016 was only US$16.92 billion. Five years later, in 2021, its value will increase by almost 25% to US$20.96 billion. It is estimated that this number will continue to increase along with economic growth in both countries.

From India, Indonesia imported many motorized vehicles, telecommunications equipment, fuel, buffalo meat and animal feed. In contrast, Indonesia exports a lot of coal (value reaching US$4.3 billion in 2021), palm oil products (US$3.4 billion), iron and steel (US$1 billion), chemicals (US$575 million), and rubber ( US$331 million).

Some of these export commodities to India are shipped from Sumatra -- which is known as a producer of plantation commodities -- through Belawan Port (North Sumatra), Perawang Port (Riau), and a number of privately owned ports along the Siak River, Riau Province.

Unfortunately, the transportation of export commodities so far cannot be shipped directly to the destination country.