Kuala lumpur: MMC Ports Holdings Bhd, Malaysia's largest port operator and manager of key transshipment hubs, will focus on executing targeted infrastructure upgrades and equipment enhancement programmes in 2026.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initiatives, under its five-year Digital Blueprint Roadmap, include a comprehensive status quo assessment of infrastructure, systems, terminal layouts, automation, and data lifecycle management across all MMC Ports' operating companies, marking 2026 as a strategic year for consolidation and modernisation. The roadmap was crafted following its collaboration agreement with NIZE Technology Co. Ltd, the technology arm of Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG), in December 2025. It aims for a comprehensive digital and smart port transformation, resulting in a unified digital foundation across the board.
MMC Ports chief executive officer Datuk Azman Shah Mohd Yusof stated that the target is to ensure all terminals, both container and conventional, align on a common technological baseline to create a seamless, interconnected ecosystem that supports the data-driven decision-making required for the next phase of MMC Ports' growth. He noted, "This focus on system-wide efficiency is already translating into measurable operating outcomes," adding that the move is expected to strengthen operational efficiency and resilience, which is vital to maintain competitiveness amid shifting global trade dynamics.
In an environment where scale, speed, and resilience increasingly define port competitiveness, MMC Ports is aligning its systems with operating models already tested at global megahubs. The MMC Ports-NIZE Technology partnership signals MMC Ports' adoption of the architectural framework that powers SIPG's operations, a company whose Shanghai Port handled 50.56 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the first 11 months of 2025, up 6.7 percent year-on-year.
Elaborating on the synergies of ports under the MMC umbrella, Azman Shah explained that initiatives such as the group-level dashboard and digital twin are intended to provide holistic, real-time visibility across the entire portfolio. "Ultimately, these tools enable the management team to make faster, informed decisions based on a unified and comprehensive operational view," he said. He also highlighted the game-changing role of artificial intelligence in operations, particularly yard planning and equipment deployment.
As MMC Ports expands its operations, standardising performance metrics is critical to ensuring reliable, world-class service standards across every touchpoint in the network. Azman Shah emphasized, "This commitment to transparency and operational discipline positions MMC Ports not only to navigate market complexities but also to deliver sustained long-term value to our shareholders and partners."
In 2025, MMC Ports' network achieved its strongest performance to date by surpassing 20 million TEUs in container throughput. This milestone was driven by Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd (PTP), which exceeded the 13 million and 14 million TEUs mark, becoming the first single Malaysian port to do so. This was followed by Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, which posted its highest annual container throughput of 3.80 million TEUs and its highest conventional cargo throughput at 12.90 million freight weight tonnes.
Beyond the two main container hubs, Johor Port Bhd recorded its highest annual container volume of 1.08 million TEUs, while Penang Port Sdn Bhd saw ferry passenger ridership rise to 3.13 million in 2025, up from 2.87 million in 2024. Meanwhile, Tanjung Bruas Port Sdn Bhd recorded its highest container throughput of 31,032 TEUs since introducing container handling in 2019.