Port congestion continues to put pressure on land transportation in March, which may be further restricted
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Since late December 2025, Indonesia's Semarang Port has continued to face operational pressure due to the surge in cargo volume arriving at the port, and the congestion problem has not been fundamentally alleviated yet.
Affected by road transportation restrictions during the holidays at the end of 2025, the customs clearance process was slowed down, port turnover efficiency declined, and the yard utilization rate was overloaded for a long time. Although the port has adopted a number of control measures, due to multiple factors such as the continued growth of import and export cargo volumes and the disorder of feeder ship schedules, the operating space in the port area is still tight, and daily loading and unloading and on-site dispatching are obviously restricted.
The port implements strict operational control and early entry is restricted.
In order to relieve yard pressure and optimize site usage efficiency, the terminal operator has implemented a series of strict control measures. Currently, the port prohibits receiving containers before the gate opening time and imposes restrictions on early stacking operations. Although the above measures are intended to maintain the stability of port operations, they have also affected the pace of container pick-up and return and the efficiency of cargo shipments to a certain extent, further exacerbating the pressure on the overall logistics chain.
During the Eid al-Fitr festival in March, the heavy vehicle traffic restriction policy will tighten land transportation
In March 2026, as the Indonesian Eid al-Fitr (Idul Fitri) approaches, the logistics chain may face greater challenges. According to a Joint Decree issued by the Indonesian government, from March 13 to 29, toll roads and main roads across the country will implement restrictions on heavy vehicles with three axles and above, trailers and semi-trailers, and trucks transporting minerals or construction bulk materials. The government stated that this move is aimed at ensuring public safety and smooth transportation back home during the holidays, but it also means that the truck capacity in and out of Semarang Port will be directly reduced, land transportation transit time will be extended, and inland transportation costs may be pushed up.
It is worth noting that vehicles transporting fuel, livestock, fertilizers, disaster relief supplies and basic living supplies are exempted, and relevant cargo owners can evaluate transportation arrangements accordingly.
It is recommended to complete the shipment in advance. Alternative transfer options will incur additional costs.
In view of the fact that land transportation will be restricted during Eid al-Fitr, local industry notices recommend that relevant cargo owners and carriers try their best to complete cargo delivery and shipping arrangements before March 13 to avoid the risk of delays caused by travel restrictions.
For goods that cannot be completed in time for the holiday, some carriers have proposed alternative transit plans through Jakarta or Surabaya ports, but customers need to bear the corresponding OTAD (Overtime and Additional Destination) fees. Currently, shipping companies such as ONE and CMA CGM have provided relevant multimodal transportation solutions.
Industry insiders pointed out that due to the combination of multiple factors such as the high yard utilization rate, the unstable shipping schedule, and the imminent restriction of land transportation, the operating pressure of Semarang Port will continue in the short term.
Shippers and freight forwarders should pay close attention to the latest announcements from ports and governments, plan transportation routes and time windows in advance, and maintain close communication with logistics service providers to reduce the risk of supply chain disruption. If you need to know the specific shipment status, it is recommended to contact the relevant carrier in time to obtain the latest operating instructions.
