GEORGE TOWN: About 70% of export cargo from Southern Thailand, particularly rubber and rubberwood products, is currently transhipped through Penang Port, says Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin.
The Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman said the cargo, moved via road, rail and barge transportation, now accounts for about 34% of Penang Port’s total throughput, underscoring the port’s growing role as a key gateway for cross-border trade.
"In 2025 alone, cargo originating from Southern Thailand contributed about 34% of Penang Port’s overall container throughput, highlighting the region’s growing importance within the port’s cargo mix and reflecting the strong interdependence and sustained growth in bilateral trade between Penang and Southern Thailand.
"The majority of exports from Southern Thailand are routed through the North Butterworth Container Terminal for onward shipment to global markets.
"This trend reinforces Penang’s strategic role within the regional logistics network and further strengthens its position as a key transhipment hub in Malaysia-Thailand bilateral trade," he said.
Yeoh added that with continued improvements in cross-border infrastructure and multimodal transport systems, Northern Malaysia and Southern Thailand are gradually forming an efficient and well-integrated regional logistics corridor.
"This corridor links seaports, inland ports and industrial hinterlands, enhancing transport efficiency and cost competitiveness while strengthening regional supply chain integration.
"It also provides businesses with more resilient and flexible logistics support to expand into international markets,” he said in a statement Sunday (April 5).
Yeoh was recently invited to a Southern Thailand Customer Appreciation Dinner hosted by Penang Port Sdn Bhd, where he held discussions with key industry stakeholders from the region.
Among those present were Inland Port Perlis Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Arif Rida Shabaruddin, PPC general manager Datuk V. Vijayaindiaran, Evergreen Marine Corporation (Malaysia) president Curtis Yen and Penang Port Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk V. Sasedharan.
