Indonesia
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Batam
Batam is a free trade zone just south of Singapore, with special customs rules.
Services in Batam
- Air freight in BatamAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in BatamFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in BatamImport and export clearance by our in-house customs teams in 8 countries and by partner teams in the Ziem network.
Airports, seaports and connections in Batam
- AirportHang Nadim
BTH - AirportSingapore Changi
SINby ferry - SeaportBatu Ampar
Hang Nadim International Airport (BTH) is Batam's airport, with mostly domestic flights and limited international cargo. Because Batam lies just south of Singapore, many international shipments are flown through Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and moved across the strait by sea. Batu Ampar Port is Batam's main container port, and Kabil Port on the east coast serves industrial and bulk cargo. Feeder services connect Batam with the Singapore container hub.
Batam is an island with no land link to Singapore, so goods move by sea: cargo vessels and feeders connect Batu Ampar and other ports with Singapore. On the island, a road network links the ports and airport with the industrial parks of Muka Kuning, Kabil and Tanjung Uncang. The Barelang bridges connect Batam with Rempang and Galang to the south. We arrange pick-up and delivery across Batam.
Industries in Batam and how we support them
Batam is part of the Batam, Bintan and Karimun free trade zone and hosts electronics and electrical manufacturing in industrial parks such as Batamindo in Muka Kuning, shipyards and offshore fabrication yards in Tanjung Uncang, and oil and gas service companies. Many plants work closely with suppliers and customers in Singapore. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight via SIN or BTH on our own air waybills, Next Flight Out for urgent components, On-Board Couriers for critical parts and sea freight via Batu Ampar. Customs clearance is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures, including free trade zone formalities.
Operational logistics facts for Batam
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), with sea transfer | International air freight | Wide choice of flights for Batam shippers |
| Batu Ampar Port | Containers and feeder services | Main container port of the free trade zone |
| Batamindo and other industrial parks | Electronics and electrical manufacturing | Free trade zone status for imported components |
| Tanjung Uncang shipyards | Shipbuilding, offshore fabrication, project cargo | Urgent spares by air and heavy cargo by sea |
Customs clearance in Indonesia
Ziem network
Customs clearance in Indonesia is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from Indonesia we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in Indonesia need a business identification number (NIB) that also serves as the importer ID.
Frequently asked questions
Do you route air freight for Batam through Singapore?
Often, yes. Shipments are flown into SIN on our own air waybill and moved to Batam by sea. Where a suitable flight serves Hang Nadim (BTH), we use it directly. We compare both options for each booking.
Can you get urgent parts to a shipyard or plant in Batam?
Yes. We book Next Flight Out into SIN or BTH and arrange the first suitable transfer to the island. For critical parts, an On-Board Courier can carry them by hand, including the ferry crossing.
Can you ship electronics exports from Batam to Europe or the US?
Yes. Finished goods are moved to SIN and flown on our own air waybill, or shipped by sea via Singapore. Products containing lithium batteries need IATA-compliant packing and documents, which we review before booking.
How does the Batam free trade zone affect customs?
Goods brought into the free trade zone from abroad are generally exempt from import duty and import taxes, provided the company is licensed for the zone. When goods leave the zone for the rest of Indonesia, import duties and taxes apply. Our partner team handles both procedures.
Who handles customs for goods arriving in Batam?
A partner team in the Ziem network handles the formalities with Bea Cukai and the free trade zone requirements, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures. You deal only with Ziem Logistics.
Can you move goods from Batam to Jakarta?
Yes. Moving goods from the free trade zone to mainland Indonesia is treated like an import into the Indonesian customs area, with duties, taxes and possibly import restrictions. We check the requirements with you and prepare the declaration.