Sabah Ports 2026 — Sepanggar Container & Cargo Data
Sabah has 3 major commercial ports. Sapangar Bay Container Terminal (SBCT) is the flagship, handling 501,944 TEUs in 2024 (up 17.2% YoY) with capacity of 1.5 million TEUs. Kota Kinabalu Passenger Terminal serves 24,634+ cruise passengers (2025) and ferry routes. Sandakan and Tawau ports handle regional cargo, palm oil, and timber. SBCT is a key BIMP-EAGA regional transhipment hub.
SBCT recovered from COVID and grew 17.2% YoY in 2024, signaling strong regional trade growth.
Source: Sabah Ports Authority
Sapangar Bay Container Terminal (SBCT)
SBCT is Sabah\u2019s largest port and a key regional transhipment hub. Developed and operated by DP World, SBCT serves the BIMP-EAGA region (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area). In 2024, SBCT handled 501,944 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), up 17.2% year-over-year, with a design capacity of 1.5 million TEUs annually.
The terminal is positioned as a strategic gateway for intra-regional trade, offering competitive costs relative to major hubs like Singapore. Expansion plans target increasing capacity to 2.5+ million TEUs by 2030, supporting anticipated regional trade growth.
Containers dominate SBCT. Bulk cargo (palm oil) is handled at Tawau and Sandakan. Petroleum/LNG handled at specialized terminals.
Source: Sabah Ports estimate
Kota Kinabalu Passenger Terminal
KK Passenger Terminal handles cruise ships and ferry passengers. In 2025, 23 cruise vessels brought 24,634+ passengers, reflecting post-COVID cruise tourism recovery. The terminal also serves regular ferry routes to Labuan (~2 hours, multiple daily departures) and occasional service to Brunei and the Philippines.
The terminal is strategically located at KK waterfront and provides ground services (immigration, customs, transportation connections). Cruise ships can accommodate vessels up to 110,000+ GT.
Sandakan & Tawau Ports
Sandakan Port: Handles regional cargo, forest products (timber), fish, and general cargo. Moderate throughput (~200,000–300,000 tonnes annually estimated). Serves regional transhipment but without container terminal infrastructure. Under expansion per Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 plan.
Tawau Port: Primary port for palm oil exports, with dedicated bulk liquid loading facilities. Also handles timber, general cargo, and limited border trade with Indonesia (Tarakan). Throughput estimated at 400,000–500,000 tonnes annually. Potential for expansion to support growing palm oil export demand.
Regional Trade Role
Sabah\u2019s ports are gateways for intra-regional ASEAN trade, particularly between Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Container traffic to/from these countries represents the largest share of SBCT throughput. Sabah is also a transhipment point for goods destined for Peninsular Malaysia and beyond.
Key export commodities: palm oil, timber, cocoa, seafood, and petroleum products. Key import commodities: machinery, vehicles, construction materials, chemicals, and consumer goods.
Frequently asked questions
Q Does Sabah have cruise ship terminals?
Q Is there a ferry from Sabah to the Philippines?
Q Is there a ferry from Kota Kinabalu to Labuan?
Q How does Sapangar Bay compare to Westports (Port Klang)?
Q How does Sabah export palm oil?
Q Is there a ferry from Tawau to Tarakan (Indonesia)?
Sources & References 6 sources
Last verified: 11 April 2026