Forecast of Major Port Throughput in Malaysia by using Multiple Linear Regression Model

Abstract

Malaysia strategically located between East and West serves as a crossroads for the global marine trade and is a key player in the industry of transporting cargo within Southeast Asia. Between 2000 and 2010, Malaysian container ports saw a more than threefold increase in throughput on a yearly average basis. This phenomenon has caused port congestion, preventing ships from loading or unloading because the terminal is already full. Consequently, they can only queue up and wait in line for their turn at the port. This affects port efficiency by having ships waiting longer at the berth while more vessels keep joining the queue. This research attempts to develop the need for port capacity growth. In this study, the data will be extracted using Microsoft Excel and analyzed by Multiple Linear Regression using Minitab Software. The analysis’s possible findings indicate that seaports rise in response to trade expansion, forcing the development of effective ways to lessen logistical pressures at Malaysian seaports. The potential significance of this study provides a recommendation for the strategies of seaports for capacity augmentation and creating effective distribution networks to satisfy growing needs.