Kota Kinabalu: Sapangar Bay Container Port (SBCP), managed by a joint venture formed by DP World and Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd, proudly welcomed the maiden call of the CTP Makassar, operated by COSCO Shipping under its newly introduced YBX Service and represented locally by Eastern Rise Shipping.
With a carrying capacity of 1,064 TEUs, the CTP Makassar berthed at SBCP on 17 August 2025, officially marking the start of a vital new regional shipping link.
The YBX Service operates on the rotation of Yangpu (Hainan) – Kota Kinabalu – Batam – Singapore – Yangpu, forming an efficient transportation loop that directly links key regional hubs and emerging market gateways. This network fosters stronger economic synergy and enables highly efficient transportation between China and ASEAN.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});One of the service’s most significant advantages is the direct Yangpu–Kota Kinabalu link, which breaks traditional routing and significantly reduces both transit time and costs between China and Sabah, East Malaysia. This development strengthens Sabah’s position within regional supply chains and enhances the state’s attractiveness as a logistics and investment destination.
This direct link will provide Sabah’s importers, exporters, and business communities with faster, more reliable, and more cost-effective access to global markets. It also opens new opportunities for trade expansion, investment, and regional collaboration.
Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd’s Group Managing Director, Datuk Ng Kiat Min, said:
“The launch of COSCO’s YBX Service is a strategic milestone for SBCP and for Sabah. Direct connectivity with Yangpu not only creates a faster and more cost-effective trade corridor with China, but also positions Kota Kinabalu as a crucial gateway for cargo movements between East Malaysia and ASEAN markets.
This development will directly benefit Sabah’s business community by enhancing competitiveness and opening up greater access to international trade opportunities. “
Datuk Ng further added:
“We are proud to collaborate with COSCO Shipping, one of the world’s largest shipping companies. This partnership highlights SBCP’s growing role as a key port of call in the region.
It also reflects the confidence of global shipping lines in Sabah’s potential to facilitate regional trade and economic growth.”
COSCO Shipping is a leading global shipping conglomerate, consistently ranked among the world’s largest container shipping companies with a fleet capacity exceeding over 3 million TEUs.
Its extensive network spans all major international trade routes, providing comprehensive coverage across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and beyond. Its inclusion of SBCP in the YBX Service integrates Kota Kinabalu into COSCO’s vast maritime network, providing Sabah with direct access to international markets.
The maiden call by the CTP Makassar reinforces SBCP’s role as an emerging hub for containerised cargo in BIMP-EAGA, providing shippers and consignees with greater flexibility, connectivity, and efficiency in reaching both established and emerging markets.
Following its departure from SBCP, the CTP Makassar will continue its voyage to Batam and Singapore before returning to Yangpu.