Indonesia Port Corporation (IPC), formerly Pelindo II, reaped profit before tax of IDR1.4 trillion (US$148 million) in the first half of 2012, an increase of 44.92 percent year-over-year.
The state-owned port operator in a press statement attributed the double-digit profit increase to improvements in infrastructure and services at the 12 ports it manages nationwide.
IPC said revenue for the first semester of the year also rose, reaching IDR2.99 trillion, a 41.09 percent increase over the same period last year.
Similarly, combined container traffic at the ports went up, expanding by 26.11 percent to 3.58 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for the first six months of the year, a 26.11 percent growth from 2.84 million TEUs in first-half 2011.
The Port of Tanjung Priok was the biggest contributor to revenue and handled 3.28 million TEUs of containers this January to June, an increase of 20.25 percent over the first half of 2011.
RJ Lino, president director of IPC, said ports are an important component of the economy and need continuous improvement. He added that enhancements this year will include adding loading and unloading equipment, acquiring more land, and installing an online-based information system.
The company said it plans to acquire 10 mobile cranes, 12 rubber tire cranes, and four container cranes.
Land at the Tanjung Priok Car Terminal will also be expanded in anticipation of an increase in cargo volume. Vehicle volume at the terminal reached 167,748 units in the first half of this year, higher by 47.53 percent over the same period last year.
The firm will also begin operating later this year an integrated online platform to help streamline shipment traffic and cut logistics costs.
At the same time, there are plans to revive the currently idle Jakarta International Container Terminal 2, of which IPC is a shareholder, by increasing the depth of its pool, said Lino.
Photo: jon crel
