Aceh – Indonesia, The number of sea transport passengers departing from several ports in Aceh experienced a sharp decline in August 2026. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) Aceh Province recorded 74,878 embarking ship passengers, down 32.04 percent compared to July 2026.
Head of BPS Aceh Province, Agus Andria, stated that the number of sea transport passengers in August 2026 still grew when compared to the same period in the previous year.
“In total across Aceh Province, the number of passengers in August 2026 reached 74,878 people, down by 32.04 percent compared to July 2026. However, when compared to August 2025 (y-on-y), it shows an increase of about 1.71 percent,” said Agus Andria during a BPS Aceh press conference, as reported by Nukilan on Friday (10/2/2026).
A decline also occurred in the number of arriving passengers. BPS recorded 77,338 passengers arriving via sea transport in August 2026, a 29.68 percent decrease compared to July 2026.
Ulee Lheue Port was the busiest point, recording 34,361 departing passengers in August. It was followed by Balohan Port with 30,760 passengers and Sinabang with 4,490 passengers.
Of the 11 sea transport monitoring points in Aceh, BPS noted that six locations experienced negative growth. Two locations recorded positive growth, while three locations had no passenger movement records during that period.
A slowdown in transport activity was also visible in air transport. The number of passengers departing through airports in Aceh in August 2026 was recorded at 33,499 people, down 2.62 percent compared to July 2026. Annually, this figure also dropped 7.06 percent compared to August 2025.
For domestic flights, departing passengers reached 23,462 people, down 3.02 percent from 24,193 people in July 2026. Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport was the largest contributor with 21,941 passengers, followed by Lasikin with 877 people, Malikus Saleh with 265 people, and Blangkejeren with 161 people.
Meanwhile, international flights from Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport recorded 10,037 departing passengers in August 2026, down 1.68 percent compared to July. Compared to August 2025, this figure fell by 15.63 percent.
On the freight transport side, domestic shipping activity actually increased. The volume of unloaded goods reached 308,216 tons, up 71.70 percent compared to July 2026. Meanwhile, the volume of loaded goods reached 152,579 tons, a monthly increase of 30.62 percent.
For international shipping, Meulaboh Port recorded 18 shipments with a cargo capacity of 1.04 million tons, down 14.34 percent compared to July. Meanwhile, unloading activity was recorded at Krueng Geukuh Port at 10,000 tons across two shipments. []
Reporter: Sammy