PETALING JAYA: Steady domestic demand and infrastructure development is seen to support the outlook for the ports and logistics sector for the rest of the year.
BIMB Securities said it had a cautiously optimistic outlook on this sector, also noting that growth is tempered by global trade uncertainties and operational challenges.
The research house forecasts Malaysia’s export and import volumes to grow by 2.9% and 5.9%, respectively, this year.
Westports Holdings Bhd
’s container throughput is expected to stay largely stable in the next quarter, with gateway volumes tracking management’s normalised growth range of 4%-5% per annum, it said.
BIMB Securities noted transshipment momentum remains firm on the back of alliance reshuffling, new service calls and elevated restow activity.
“But its near-term performance could be capped by weak global demand and tariff uncertainty, though ongoing Asean foreign direct investment shifts and the port’s cost-efficient operations offer some medium-term support,” it said.
The research house appeared more optimistic on Perak Transit Bhd, another logistics company on potentially rising contributions from Bidor Sentral following its commencement in September 2024.
Meanwhile, it said Swift Haulage Bhd is set for steady second-half earnings on resilient warehousing demand, margin gains in freight forwarding and disciplined cost controls.
“Container haulage volumes may remain soft, tempering near-term growth. In the longer term, the Shah Alam International Logistics Hub’s Phase 1 completion in 2026, with 2.8 million sq ft of warehousing and a 120,000 sq ft cold room, will drive expansion into high-value cold chain logistics,” BIMB Securities said.
