Indonesia Ocean Freight Transport - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The Indonesia ocean freight transport market size was valued at USD 19.61 billion in 2025, and is estimated to grow from USD 20.99 billion in 2026 to reach USD 28.13 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 6.04% during the forecast period (2026-2031). This report is segmented by Cargo Type (Containerized [Dry, Reefer], Non-Containerized [Dry Bulk, Liquid Bulk, Breakbulk]), by End-User Industry (Electronics, Chemicals, Food and Beverage, Pharmaceuticals, Retail, and More), and by Region (Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Papua, and Maluku Islands). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Indonesia Ocean Freight Transport Market Trends and Insights

Growth in Domestic and International Containerized Trade

International container throughput at Pelindo-managed terminals rose 9.13% in the first half of 2026, and imports increased 11.67%. This increase is driven by capital-goods demand connected to manufacturing rather than consumer restocking. Raw materials and capital goods accounted for 78% of Indonesia’s imports, which supported a direct link between industrial activity and inbound container demand. Manufacturers use imported inputs and equipment in production, so their freight requirements are less dependent on short-term household demand. Indonesia’s exports reached USD 92.15 billion in January through April 2026, up 5.48% year over year. Higher export activity also supports outbound container demand and can improve vessel use on Java-centered routes. More balanced flows help carriers use equipment for both directions and reduce the cost of positioning empty containers. These conditions support the Indonesia ocean freight transport market because the trade base combines domestic supply needs with export movements.

Port Modernization and Network Expansion

Tanjung Priok Terminal 2 Petikemas began operations in August 2026 with a 517.5-meter berth and a 98,700 square-meter yard. This additional capacity raises Jakarta’s ability to handle container flows as import and export traffic grows. It also gives carriers more berth and yard capacity at a gateway that handles a large share of the country’s container trade. Pelindo rehabilitated facilities at 74 locations during 2025-2026, while its PINP program targeted up to 20 new inter-island routes. These actions move the focus from individual terminal upgrades to the movement of cargo through the national port network. Capacity added at Java gateways can increase feeder demand for secondary ports in Sulawesi, Papua, and other eastern areas. Reliable secondary links are necessary when containers arrive through large hub terminals but have final destinations outside Java. This connection supports growth in the Indonesia ocean freight transport market because larger hubs require more regular services with smaller ports.

Fuel-Price Volatility and Bunker-Cost Exposure

Bunker costs represented 45% to 55% of operating expenses on Indonesia’s short-sea inter-island routes. This exposure is greater than on deep-sea trades and is most difficult for operators with limited ability to raise freight rates. Routes serving smaller islands often have uneven cargo flows, so operators cannot always recover higher fuel costs through a full return load. PT IMC Pelita Logistik identified fuel-price volatility as a principal first-quarter 2026 challenge and used voyage optimization to contain costs. PT TEMAS began operating the LNG-powered MV Digul Mas in August 2026 on the Surabaya-Kendari-Gorontalo route. The vessel provides an example of a lower-volatility fuel approach, although fleet conversion requires capital that smaller operators may not have. International carriers are also working toward IMO Carbon Intensity Indicator compliance through dual-fuel options.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• Resource Downstreaming and Bulk-Cargo Export Demand
• E-commerce, Retail Replenishment, and Consumer-Goods Imports
• Hinterland Connectivity Gaps and High Inter-Island Logistics Costs

Segment Analysis

Non-containerized cargo held 57.86% of the Indonesia ocean freight transport market share in 2025, reflecting the continued importance of commodity freight that moves in large volumes rather than through individual unit loads, while containerized cargo is projected to expand at a 7.89% CAGR through 2031, making it the fastest-growing cargo category within the Indonesia ocean freight transport market. Dry bulk handled coal and minerals, liquid bulk moved crude petroleum, LPG, and palm oil, and breakbulk supported cargo that does not fit standard containers. These freight flows are closely tied to Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Sumatra, where production sites and processing facilities depend on coastal shipping links. The segment remains important because many exports depend on large-volume commodity movements and because cargoes require vessel types matched to their physical characteristics. PT Pertamina International Shipping managed 111 vessels in 2025 and increased LNG shipment frequency 5.5 times year over year. Its fleet activity illustrates the growing role of liquid bulk in the Indonesia ocean freight transport market and the need for regular energy distribution between islands. Breakbulk also supports nickel smelter construction in Morowali and power infrastructure work in eastern Indonesia, where project materials often cannot move in standard container services.

E-commerce replenishment, pharmaceutical distribution, and electronics imports are moving more freight toward scheduled liner services, which support regular delivery patterns for time-sensitive goods. This shift gives shippers more predictable service than spot-chartered general cargo and better aligns port calls with distribution schedules. Reefer containers are gaining importance as pharmaceutical distribution requires more temperature-controlled handling from port arrival through inland delivery. BPOM temperature-logging requirements for biologics are encouraging dedicated reefer use within containerized freight. Operators are also combining container capacity with fuel-cost measures on routes where conventional fuel costs had weakened service economics. TEMAS’s MV Digul Mas on the Surabaya-Kendari-Gorontalo route reflects this approach to serving cargo demand while addressing operating costs. The cargo transition gives the Indonesia ocean freight transport market a stronger container base while retaining a large bulk freight role.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Cargo Type
  • Containerized Cargo
    • Dry
    • Reefer
  • Non-Containerized Cargo
    • Dry Bulk Cargo
    • Liquid Bulk Cargo
    • Breakbulk and General Cargo
• By End-User Industry
  • Electronics and Semiconductors
  • Chemicals and Petrochemicals
  • Food and Beverage
  • Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare
  • Retail and E-commerce
  • Others
• By Region
  • Java (Jakarta and BOD)
  • Sumatra
  • Kalimantan
  • Sulawesi
  • Bali and Nusa Tenggara
  • Papua Region and Maluku Islands

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

• Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
• A.P. Moller - Maersk
• CMA CGM
• COSCO SHIPPING Lines
• Ocean Network Express (ONE)
• Hapag-Lloyd
• ZIM Integrated Shipping Services
• Pacific International Lines (PIL)
• Meratus
• PT Salam Pacific Indonesia Lines (SPIL)
• PT TEMAS Tbk
• PT Samudera Indonesia Tbk
• PT Tanto Intim Line
• PT Pertamina International Shipping
• PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia (PELNI)
• Evergreen Marine Corporation (Evergreen Line)
• PT Soechi Lines Tbk
• PT Humpuss Maritim Internasional Tbk
• PT IMC Pelita Logistik Tbk
• PT Transcoal Pacific Tbk
• PT Habco Trans Maritima Tbk
• PT Berlian Laju Tanker Tbk

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support