Kuching, Malaysia

Port Overview

Kuching is the capital and main port of Sarawak, located on the northwest coast of Borneo, Malaysia. As the largest city in Sarawak, it serves as a vital administrative and commercial hub for East Malaysia. Strategically positioned near the mouth of the Sarawak River and close to the South China Sea, Kuching is important for regional trade and exports such as rubber and pepper. The port handles an annual container throughput of approximately 300,000 TEU, making it a key gateway for the state’s imports and exports.

Facilities & Infrastructure

Kuching Port features two main terminals: Senari Terminal, handling containers with six quay cranes, eleven rubber-tyred gantry cranes, and multiple reach stackers, and Pending Terminal, focused on general cargo with extensive forklift and towing tractor fleets. The port supports container, general, and roll-on/roll-off cargo, offers three warehouses, and has a Ro-Ro facility for 280 vehicles. Advanced equipment includes container spreaders and terminal tractors; AGVs are not currently in use.

Container Terminals

Kuching, Malaysia’s container terminals have a total of 11 berths, with a container handling capacity of approximately 340,000 TEUs per year. The terminals are semi-automated, using mobile and floating cranes for container operations. Major operations are managed by the Kuching Port Authority, with the main facilities located at Senari and Pending Terminals. The port also provides warehousing, RoRo, and general cargo services.

Port Services

• Container handling: Modern quay cranes, rubber-tyred gantry cranes, reach stackers, and dedicated container yards at Senari Terminal.
• Cargo operations: General and bulk cargo handling, stevedoring, cargo quay transfer, sorting, delivery, and weighing.
• Ship services: Berthing, unberthing, pilotage, towage, mooring, bunkering, fresh water supply, reefer container plug-in/out, and security.
• Warehousing: Transit areas, outdoor storage, cold storage, and container freight stations.
• Customs: Full customs clearance and inspection facilities for import/export cargo.

Global Connectivity

Kuching Port in Sarawak, Malaysia connects to regional hub ports such as Singapore and serves the southern region of Sarawak, supporting trade with other Sarawak ports like Bintulu, Samalaju, Rajang, and Tanjung Manis. It handles container, general, and Ro-Ro cargo, linking to major shipping routes in Southeast Asia and facilitating exports to global markets via transshipment through Singapore. The port’s connectivity supports industrial zones and efficient cargo movement throughout East Malaysia.

Port Statistics

Kuching Port, Malaysia

• TEU throughput: Approximately 70,000–80,000 TEUs annually
• World ranking: 421st (Port Connectivity Ranking)
• Number of berths: 3
• Port area: About 100 hectares
• Shipping lines: Serviced by regional and feeder lines, connecting to major hubs in Malaysia and Southeast Asia