KUCHING: Samalaju Industrial Port has significantly expanded its cargo volume this year, mainly in the handling of manganese ore, alumina and anode carbon.
This boosted its operational revenue by RM8.42 million (+23 per cent) to RM44.54 million in the January-March 2026 quarter (1Q2026) from RM36.12 million a year ago, according to Bintulu Port Holdings Bhd (BPHB).
Samalaju Industrial Port Sdn Bhd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BPHB. The industrial port was purpose-built to serve the energy-intensive industries, such as aluminium and ferroalloys smelting plants, in the adjacent Samalaju Industrial Park, Bintulu.
With the improved performance of Samalaju Port, this drove BPHB group revenue higher by 8.3 per cent to RM218.5 million in 1Q2026 from RM201.7 million in 1Q2025.
“The stronger performance was driven by higher cargo handling activities, which contributed to improved overall cargo throughput and earnings during the quarter,” BPHB said in a recent press release.
Bintulu Port Sdn Bhd also recorded higher cargo handling activities, resulting in increased revenue to RM161.8 million from RM156.2 million in 1Q2025. Also performing better was BiPort Bulkers Sdn Bhd, which posted a 28.6 per cent jump in revenue to RM12.1 million from RM9.4 million during the same period.
“Supported by stronger operating performance, the group’s profit before tax for the quarter rose 7.8 per cent to RM45.73 million from RM42.43 million achieved in the corresponding quarter last year, despite total expenses increasing by RM11.51 million to RM180.81 million compared with the corresponding quarter last year.
“The higher total expenses were mainly due to increased direct operating costs in line with higher operational activities and were partly contributed by higher fuel-related costs arising from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East,” said BPHB.
The company’s earnings per share improved to 6.63 sen from 6.17 sen, and it has declared an interim single-tier dividend of 3 sen per share for the quarter, payable on July 8.
The 1Q2026 financial results were a marked improvement from the immediate preceding quarter (4Q2025), when BPHB group’s pre-tax profit was RM23.74 million (1Q2026: RM45.73 million) on higher revenue of RM223.1 million (1Q2026: RM218.5 million).
BPHB said the lower revenue in the current quarter was mainly due to decreased turnover generated by Bintulu Port from lower handling of general cargo, bulk fertiliser and supply base activities, as well as from bulking activities.
On the other hand, revenue from Samalaju Port leapt by RM1.68 million because of increased handling of anode carbon, coal and other dry bulk cargo.
On the current year’s prospects, BPHB said that although the ongoing geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East do not directly impact the group’s operations, they have indirectly driven fuel expenses higher within the group.
“The group is focusing on mitigating the impact of rising operational costs while maintaining prudent financial discipline by prioritising essential expenditures and deferring non-critical spending.”
BPHB expects liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo handling and vessel calls to remain the group’s key revenue drivers in 2026, supported by continued dry bulk cargo activities at both Bintulu Port and Samalaju Port, as well as bulking activities at BiPort Bulkers Sdn Bhd.
