KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 25): When the government made the bold decision to position Port Klang as the country’s premier maritime gateway in the 1990s, it raised a lot of eyebrows. After all, competing with regional rivals like Singapore and Hong Kong was no small task, and both were already way ahead in terms of policy implementation and supply chain development. Many wondered if Port Klang was up to the task.
Fast forward to today and it has completely silenced the early sceptics. Not only has it broken into the ranks of the world’s 10 busiest container ports for the first time, it has also proven that the government’s move was spot on.
In Lloyd’s List’s 2025 rankings, Port Klang — comprising Westports and Northport — climbed to the 10th place, edging out long-time heavyweight Hong Kong, which slipped to 12th. The port in Selangor handled a record container volume of 14.64 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2024, a 4.1% increase from 14.06 million TEUs in the previous year. Westports accounted for a dominant 75% share, moving 10.98 million TEUs through its terminal.
In an interview with The Edge, Port Klang Authority (PKA) general manager Captain Subramaniam Karuppiah says the achievement didn’t happen overnight.
“We have been steadily building towards this for years, but it’s still a pleasant surprise to finally see Port Klang in the global top 10.”
The achievement comes at a time when PKA’s financial footing is firmer than ever.
After grappling with losses in previous years, the port regulator has returned to profitability, reflecting stronger financial discipline and strategic investments. “2023 and 2024 have been a turnaround for us,” says Subramaniam. “While the financial statements have not yet been tabled in Parliament, I can say they have been positive years.”.
Despite successfully positioning Port Klang as one the world’s busiest container ports, PKA continues to grapple with the legacy of the Port Klang Free Zone scandal — a high-profile case of mismanagement and misuse of public funds that implicated two transport ministers.
Subramaniam is, however, committed to putting this troubled chapter behind it.
By : The Edge Malaysia
