Bukit Kayu Hitam: Malaysia’s Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan has visited the Bukit Kayu Hitam (BKH) Inland Customs Depot (ICD) and the free commercial zone during a recent working visit.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd group chief executive and managing director Datuk Seri Dr Michael Tio stated that the visit marked a significant milestone for the company, highlighting the operational readiness of BKH ICD’s inland port and free commercial zone. The facilities are designed to enhance Malaysia’s logistics and transportation sector.
Tio explained that Bukit Kayu Hitam ICD Sdn Bhd was established as a joint venture on December 3, 2019, combining two leading entities, One Northern Hub Sdn Bhd, a fully owned subsidiary of PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd, and Northern Gateway Logistics Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Northern Gateway Sdn Bhd. Strategically located adjacent to the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration Customs Quarantine Security Complex, this 50-acre development is situated on the North-South Expressway, also designated as Asian Highway 2, a key route for the ASEAN Customs Transit System.
The statement from Tio noted that through the ASEAN Customs Transit System, BKH ICD facilitates seamless duty-free trucking across borders, connecting Singapore to Vietnam and onwards to China. The inland port’s phased development comprises four distinct segments, with the first phase being the 12.4-acre BKH Inland Port, featuring a customs office complex.
Phase two, known as the BKH Free Commercial Zone (Blackwood Forests), covers 9.3 acres and houses four high-capacity warehouses named Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Winter. These facilities collectively offer around 200,000 square feet of storage space. Future phases will include parking, fueling, and electric vehicle charging stations, along with an integrated hub for office space, education, retail, and hospitality called the Blackwood Complex.
Tio added that the company’s vision since 2008 was to establish One Northern Hub to facilitate southern Thai exports via Malaysian ports. The launch of BKH ICD and the free commercial zone aims to elevate Malaysia’s status as the next ASEAN logistics hub by making cross-border cargo movements seamless and efficient, while also contributing to socioeconomic development in local communities.
Since breaking ground in early 2022, BKH ICD has achieved several milestones, including securing full regulatory approvals by early 2025 and becoming operational on April 8, 2025. The free commercial zone was officially launched on June 1, 2025, solidifying its role as a vital trade enabler. BKH ICD operates seven days a week, with a capacity to handle 250,000 TEUs annually, equipped with advanced stacking slots and cutting-edge infrastructure for efficient logistics management.