Incheon Port Authority (IPA) held the 2026 Exports, Imports and Cargo Volume Forecast Seminar at IPA headquarters in Incheon on Jan. 21.
The event was designed to look into export and import performances in 2025 and Incheon Port’s logistics, as well as the outlook for 2026 cargo volumes and countermeasures.
It was attended by Baek Jae-min, head of the International Trade Team of the Survey Burau at the Bank of Korea, who gave a presentation on 2025 export and import evaluations and the outlook for 2025, and Choi Suk-woo, chief of the Port Demand Analysis Research Office at the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), who spoke on port cargo trends and outlooks.
Baek of BOK explained Korea’s export and import trends in 2025. He forecast that the nation will see exports rise 1.4 percent next year with a focus on semiconductors and IT items and imports increase 2.4 percent centering around capital and consumer items.
Choi of KMI is forecasting that the nation’s total cargo volumes will increase next year compared to the previous year.
He predicted that container volumes will increase to 3.57 million TEU on the back of easing outside uncertainties, while sand, cement, coal and cars will surge 95. 2 percent, 7.6 percent, 4.6 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively, among bulk cargoes.
Ahn Kil-sup, head of the Marketing Office at IPA, made a presentation on Incheon Port’s 2025 volumes and 2026 marketing plans to share strategies to expand the port’s cargo volumes and future implementation strategies.
Senior Executive Vice President Kim Sang-ki in charge of operations at IPA said, “Uncertainties over exports, imports and the whole of traffic volumes are expected to be continued during 2026 in the wake of trade environment changes, and we will ramp up market analysis, field-oriented support and cooperation with shipping companies and terminals so that Inchon can secure stable cargo volumes amid these conditions.”
IPA Opens New Regular Container Service Connecting Korea, China and Indonesia
Incheon Port Authority said Incheon Port launched a regular container service connecting Korea, China and Indonesia — the KCI route, on Jan. 13.
The Interasia Engage, a 2,2000 TEU container ship of Interasia Lines arrived at Hajin Incheon Container Terminal on Jan. 13.
Ships from TS Lines, GSL and Namsung Shipping will be put into operation to stabilize the regular container service route.
IPA said the operation of the latest regular container service is expected to greatly improve export and import logistics access with a focus on Jakarta and Surabaya areas of Indonesia.
It is predicted to bring about more than some 120,000 TEU of new cargo volumes annually with a focus on waste paper bound for Jakarta, PVC and export cargoes as well ass furniture imports departing from Shezen (Shekou), China.
The KCI route has been launched as part of Incheon Port’s strategies to diversify shipping routes with a focus on new growth markets.
IPA has been promoting port sales activities targeting shipping companies, shippers and forwarders in the Indonesian areas and incentives in strategic areas, and such strategies have paid off through the opening of the new shipping route.
IPA President Lee Kyung-kyu said, “The opening of the new shipping route of Indonesia is expected to serve as a turning point of connecting new growth markets of Southeast Asia with Incheon Port directly, and we will offer support to strengthen the competitiveness of export and import logistics companies in the Seoul metropolitan area through aggressive marketing activities targeting new growth markets, including Indonesia and attracting of new shipping routes.”
Incheon Port opened nine new container shipping routes last year.
The nine new routes have brought to 72 the number of container shipping routes in which ships ply from and to Incheon.
Incheon Port Achieves Record High Coastal Passengers in 2025
Incheon Port Authority held a ceremony to celebrate Incheon Port’s record high coastal passengers last year.
Incheon Port handled 1.07 million coastal passengers as of Dec. 29, 2025, renewing the previous record high of 1,063,000 passengers in 2013, tentative figures showed.
The event took place at Incheon Port’s Coastal Passenger Terminal, with the head of the Incheon Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, IPA president and officials of related organizations in attendance.
IPA said demand for touring coastal islands surged on the back of the introducing of Incheon City’s I-Sea Pass, and infrastructure for accommodating passengers had been renovated by improving passenger usage conditions.
Rising passenger demand had been accommodated in a stable fashion through field management and cooperation with related institutions.
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