Malaysia Maritime Transport Profile 2026
Outline
MALAYSIA
MARITIME TRANSPORT PROFILE
Supported by:
Maritime assets
Port area in 2025
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Ships built by country of building, annual
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Merchant fleet by country of beneficial ownership, annual
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Trade - Navigation total
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Water transport employment
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Activity
Container port throughput
Port call and performance statistics
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Trade mode share
Port Activity
Trade openness index
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Seafarer supply
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Top 10 Freight Transport Expenditure in USD (Import)
Source: UNCTAD & World Bank. (n.d.). TransportCosts. UN Trade & Development Data Hub - Trade-and-Transport Dataset, Annual, 2016 Onward. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://unctadstat.unctad.org/datacentre/dataviewer/US.TransportCosts
Top 10 Freight transport work in thousand ton-km (Import)
Source: UNCTAD & World Bank. (n.d.). TransportCosts. UN Trade & Development Data Hub - Trade-and-Transport Dataset, Annual, 2016 Onward. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://unctadstat.unctad.org/datacentre/dataviewer/US.TransportCosts
Top 10 Freight Transport Expenditure in USD (Export)
Source: UNCTAD & World Bank. (n.d.). TransportCosts. UN Trade & Development Data Hub - Trade-and-Transport Dataset, Annual, 2016 Onward. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://unctadstat.unctad.org/datacentre/dataviewer/US.TransportCosts
Top 10 Freight transport work in thousand ton-km (Export)
Source: UNCTAD & World Bank. (n.d.). TransportCosts. UN Trade & Development Data Hub - Trade-and-Transport Dataset, Annual, 2016 Onward. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://unctadstat.unctad.org/datacentre/dataviewer/US.TransportCosts
Connectivity and performance
LPI
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Liner shipping connectivity index
Port liner shipping connectivity index
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Bilateral liner shipping connectivity index
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Trade cost
Container port performance index
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Remoteness index
Sustainable freight transport index
Percent of firms identifying transport as a major constraint
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Shipping emissions
EDGAR GHG 2025
Transport energy consumption
EDGAR AP 8.1
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GAINS emissions
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Adaptation and resilience
Average annual loss
Port risk
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Investment on ports
Development financing
Private participation in infrastructure
Policy Targets
LPG/ CNG/ LNG
| National Energy Policy 2022-2040 | 2022 | Percentage of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as alternative fuel for marine transport = 25% from 0% in 2018 | 2040 |
Policy Measures
| Voluntary National Review 2025 - MYS | Shipping fuels | Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) represents a promising pathway to decarbonise aviation while unlocking new avenues for green industrial growth, positioning biofuels as a key pillar in achieving net-zero emissions and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. SAF will assist airlines, haulage companies and the shipping industry, among others, in adopting more sustainable practices to reduce their emissions. | 2025 |
| National Energy Policy 2022-2040 | Bunkering infrastructure for alternative fuels | Capture growth with LNG uptake in marine bunkering Invest to build local capabilities and technology advantage to unlock high potential emerging areas of biofuel use such as in marine bunkering and aviation, biogas and biomethane (such as, BioCNG) in industry, supported by early-stage funding and grants to encourage early-mover adoption. Position Malaysia as a regional LNG bunkering hub for long-term advantage, with supporting port incentives and policies. | 2022 |
| National Energy Policy 2022-2040 | Freight and logistics improvements - General | Support timely execution and shifts to alternative modes of transport for freight. | 2022 |
| National Energy Policy 2022-2040 | LPG/ CNG/ LNG | Percentage of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as alternative fuel for marine transport = 25% from 0% in 2018 | 2022 |
| National Energy Policy 2022-2040 | Shipping fuels | Optimise fuel mix and encourage investments in refineries for residue desulphurisation and low-sulphur crude topping units to enhance domestic supply of Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (LSFO) to meet IMO requirements and encourage take-up of LSFO in domestic ports. | 2022 |
| Twelfth Malaysia Plan 2021-2025 | Inland waterways (IWT) improvement - General | Connectivity and mobility between rural and urban areas will be improved to bridge the development gap and foster greater economic integration. Transportation services, such as buses, e-hailing and water transportation in rural areas will be enhanced. | 2021 |
| Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint 2021-2030 | Modal shift | a. Embark on a specific detailed study to explore possibility of expanding existing rail network to cater for freight transportation. b. Encourage KTMB to consider the possibility of catering for more freight to be transported by rail (apart from the ECRL which will also caters for freight transport). | 2021 |
| Twelfth Malaysia Plan 2021-2025 | Modal shift | The use of green vehicles, particularly for public transport as well as logistics and delivery services will be expanded, while the shift of freight transport mode from road to rail will be further encouraged. | 2021 |
| Twelfth Malaysia Plan 2021-2025 | Shipping efficiency improvements | The accessibility and capacity of ports were improved, to meet industry demand and to facilitate trade. The Port Klang Authority (PKA) deepened the south channel from 16.5 metres to 18 metres in 2016 to cater for bigger vessels of up to 18,000 twenty-footer equivalent units (TEUs). Capacity expansion works undertaken include the refurbishment of three wharves at the Northport and one new berth at Westports in Port Klang, Selangor. Meanwhile, an additional 12 new cranes were installed at Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Gelang Patah, Johor to improve the efficiency of cargo handling. | 2021 |
| Twelfth Malaysia Plan 2021-2025 | Shipping improvement - General | Port operators will be urged to provide better services for maintenance, repair and overhaul services (MRO) for ships under the guidance of port authorities. The port operators will continue to enhance the capacity of ports infrastructure and services to handle larger vessels as well as provide efficient cargo handling facilities. Proper parking facilities for prime movers will be provided to ease congestion during peak hours in the ports. Facilities and equipment of ports will be upgraded while processes will be reviewed to increase overall efficiency and competitiveness. | 2021 |
| National Physical Plan_Chapter 7 (Implementation) | Inland waterways (IWT) improvement - General | Improve ferry services Develop water taxi services | 2020 |
| National Transport Policy 2019-2030 | Inland waterways (IWT) improvement - General | Provide facilities and services for water transport | 2019 |
| National Transport Policy 2019-2030 | Shipping port infrastructure improvements | Optimise facilities at selected ports to increase opportunities and engagement for cruise tourism by private local and international cruise operators | 2019 |
| Logistics and Trade Facilitation Master Plan 2015-2020 | Shipping improvement - General | Improve the overall registry structure in order to increase the number of vessels registered under Malaysian flag • Introduce fee structure based on tonnage and industry practices by major flag states • Review the entry requirement for Malaysian ship managers and ship registration Position Port Klang as a regional maritime centre | 2015 |
| National Policy on Climate Change | Shipping improvement - General | Promotion of water transportation | 2009 |