SHAH ALAM, Dec 9 — Benefitting from its strategic position along the golden shipping route of the Straits of Malacca, Port Klang remains one of the nation's busiest ports.
Backed by a prime geographical location, pro-business policies, and a highly efficient operating system, it has for the first time secured a place among the world’s top ten busiest container ports, per the Lloyd’s List Top 100 Ports 2025 ranking released on September 1.
This marks a historic milestone for Selangor and the nation’s maritime trade.
The top three ports in this year’s list are Shanghai, Singapore, and Ningbo-Zhoushan. Port Klang’s global ranking has risen steadily, from 13th in 2022 to 11th in 2023, and then broke into the top 10.
Behind this impressive achievement lies the long-standing role of the Port Klang Authority (PKA) as the nation’s “guardian of the maritime gateway”, serving as both its regulator and driving force.
In an exclusive interview with Media Selangor, PKA chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah said that as the landowner and principal authority of Port Klang, the authority has privatised port operations to two operators: Northport and Westports.
Its continued rise in the global rankings is attributed to key factors, including its strategic geographical location, business-friendly policies, and the port’s highly efficient operating ecosystem.
“Port Klang’s largest international competitor is Singapore, while domestically it faces healthy competition from Penang Port and Johor’s Port of Tanjung Pelepas.
"However, compared with Singapore, Port Klang’s greatest advantage is its vast industrial hinterland, which drives sustained growth in port activities," he said.
Ean Yong added that Singapore’s limited land area limits industrial expansion, resulting in around 98 per cent of cargo handled there being transhipped. In contrast, Port Klang enjoys a stronger foundation of locally generated cargo.
Strong local cargo base and robust transhipment volume
An estimated 45 per cent of Port Klang’s containers are local cargo, with the rest being transhipment containers, reflecting the port’s importance not only as a transhipment hub but also as a key gateway for Malaysia’s import and export industries.
“Many international shipping lines choose to call at Port Klang precisely because of the cargo generated by our local industrial zones," he said.
Similarly, pro-business and open-investment policies implemented by both the Federal and state governments have strongly boosted port activity and cargo growth.
“In recent years, more investors from China have chosen to establish manufacturing operations in Malaysia, and this is a very positive trend for Port Klang," Ean Yong said.
Throughput continues to grow, targeting 15 million TEUs this year
As a vital maritime hub for Selangor and Malaysia, Port Klang has continued to grow its container throughput thanks to strong regional connectivity and its strategic role as a transhipment centre.
In 2024, Port Klang handled 14.64 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU), a 4.1 per cent increase from 14.06 million TEUs in 2023.
Of this, import containers amounted to 3.38 million TEUs (including recyclable paper, automotive parts, grains, dairy products, and sugar); export containers totalled 3.35 million TEUs (paper products, glassware, and empty containers repositioned to Asia); while transhipment containers reached 7.92 million TEUs.
During the interview, he revealed that Port Klang aims to handle 15 million TEUs this year.
“As of June this year, Port Klang has already handled nearly seven million containers. I am confident that with continued efficiency improvements, we will achieve the annual target," Ean Yong said.
Westports expansion to shape the next decade
As global port competition intensifies, Port Klang is pressing ahead with major infrastructure expansion projects to prepare for the next ten years and beyond.
He noted that the Westports expansion plan is already in full swing and is expected to be completed within the next five to ten years, doubling capacity from the current 14 million TEUs to 28 million TEUs.
"Westports’ utilisation rate is now close to 80 per cent. Without timely expansion, it will be difficult to handle future cargo growth," Ean Yong said.
The expansion will be implemented in phases, with the first phase beginning last year as new terminals are progressively opened to meet operational needs, rather than waiting until all works are completed.
The Westports expansion includes the construction of eight new container terminals (CT10 to CT17), alongside deep-water berths capable of accommodating larger vessels, further enhancing cargo-handling efficiency.
"The first phase will involve CT10 to CT13, with the earliest facilities expected to open by the end of this year or next year. The second phase will involve CT14 to CT17," he said.
On Northport’s development, upgrades to Wharf 9 are underway, including the installation of modern equipment, such as twin-lift cranes, to improve operational efficiency.
“Northport, being an older facility, has limited land available and is unable to undertake major expansion. Improvements will therefore focus on equipment upgrades to enhance overall efficiency," Ean Yong said.
* As Port Klang enters the ranks of the world’s top 10 ports, its next phase of expansion is already in motion. The proposed third port on Pulau Carey is a critical development to support future container harbour growth. The next report will examine this highly anticipated new port and analyse how it may reshape Port Klang’s landscape.
