Photo: Carl Josef Kleingrothe/National Gallery of Australia
In its heyday, the Deli Sultanate was once one of the most prosperous sultanates in Sumatra. Mining products and plantations in the area were the mainstay of its high-value export commodities, including oil and tobacco.
The port was an important key for the transportation of these various commodities. When Deli Port was no longer able to accommodate large ships due to the silting of the Deli River, a new port was built on the Belawan River.
The photo above was of possible activity at Belawan Harbor in the 1900s. We can see a large ship docked and small boats carried goods.
Belawan Port is still actively operating today under the management of PT. Indonesian Port I.