Bintulu: Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd (BPHB) remains largely insulated from the United States tariff measures due to its limited trade exposure to the American market, said president and group chief executive officer Datuk Ruslan Abdul Ghani. He mentioned that the port's trade flows are primarily concentrated in East Asia, particularly China and Japan, and selected European countries.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ruslan stated, 'We don't actually trade with the US a lot. Most of the products, especially in Samalaju, for instance, are meant for the East, such as China and Japan,' during the BPHB media appreciation night 2026. While the direct impact of US tariff policies has been minimal, potential indirect effects could arise if major trading partners like China and Japan are significantly affected.

Ruslan added, 'If China and Japan are affected by the US tariff, then obviously we will be affected. But so far, for the last year or so, we have not seen that great of an impact on us,' indicating that BPHB remains relatively protected under the current global trade environment.

Meanwhile, BPHB is accelerating its digital transformation agenda to enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness. The port operator aims to become a fully digitalised port by 2030, having implemented several key initiatives over the past three years, including smart gate systems and licence plate recognition technology.

Ruslan highlighted that the port is also installing a state-of-the-art Port Operating System (POS), aligned with systems used at Shanghai's Yangshan Phase 4 terminal, to deliver a fully integrated advanced operating platform for customers. Additionally, marine management systems, enhanced closed-circuit television infrastructure, and drone technology have been introduced to strengthen monitoring and operational capabilities.