Abstract
Before the opening of Belawan Port in the early 20th century, Labuhan Bilik Port was one of the largest and most important ports in East Sumatra. Trading and shipping activities at Labuhan Bilik Port were supported by its geographical conditions with many rivers surrounding it that could even reach the hinterlands. Due to this condition, coupled with the limited land route infrastructures, residents in hinterlands utilized river transportation to sell agricultural products, especially the smallholder rubber. Labuhan Batu and Padang Lawas areas were known as large rubber plantation areas. To distribute their crops, residents in this area relied on Labuhan Bilik Port. It was a transit port for rubber farmers and traders. They could directly export the rubbers to the peninsula, such as Penang and Singapore. The discussion about the role of Labuhan Bilik Port for hinterland was explained by descriptive analysis. The use of sources such as periodic reports, colonial archives as well as other literature sources was needed to describe and explain the port activities in Labuhan Bilik. The role of Labuhan Bilik Port was significant considering that it was located at the confluence of two large rivers; Bilah River and Barumun River. The two rivers crossed the enclave of smallholder rubber farming even to the Padang Lawas (Tapanuli) area. In addition, the close distance between Labuhan Bilik and the Peninsula was also considered important due to the fact that there were a large number of traders exported smallholder rubber to Penang and Singapore
Highlights
A port is a gateway or seaward gate, a meeting place for traders who market their commodities from mainland cultivation in exchange for commodities from across the region. [1] Trading activities that occurred between the supporting areas with the port as a transit point for the distribution of agricultural commodities were usually supported by both land and river transportation modes
The hectic pace of rubber trading activities in Labuhan Bilik was highly affected by its geographical conditions where many rivers passed through it, especially the two large rivers; Bilah River and Barumun River which could reach up to Padang Lawas (Tapanuli) area
In 1922, the smallholder rubber production exported through Labuhan Bilik Port was the highest in East Sumatra and this volume continued until 1930
Summary
A port is a gateway or seaward gate, a meeting place for traders who market their commodities from mainland cultivation in exchange for commodities from across the region. [1] Trading activities that occurred between the supporting areas (hinterland) with the port as a transit point for the distribution of agricultural commodities were usually supported by both land and river transportation modes. The hectic pace of rubber trading activities in Labuhan Bilik was highly affected by its geographical conditions where many rivers passed through it, especially the two large rivers; Bilah River and Barumun River which could reach up to Padang Lawas (Tapanuli) area. This condition helped Labuhan Bilik Harbor survived and became one of the most important ports in East Sumatra until the economic depression hit the world in 1930. 2. Smallholder Rubber Plantation Before getting introduced by a more structured agricultural system, people in East Sumatra, including in Labuhan Batu area, still relied on obtaining products from the forest. In 1922, the smallholder rubber production exported through Labuhan Bilik Port was the highest in East Sumatra and this volume continued until 1930. [9] The amount of smallholder rubber production was imported from around the Labuhan Bilik area, but from other areas such as Bilah, Kota Pinang and the Tapanuli region through which the Bilah River and the Barumun River passed. [10]
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