Indonesia
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Makassar
Makassar is the gateway to Sulawesi and eastern Indonesia.
Services in Makassar
- Air freight in MakassarAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in MakassarFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in MakassarImport 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 Makassar
- AirportSultan Hasanuddin
UPG - SeaportMakassar New Port
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG), north-east of Makassar, is the main airport of Sulawesi and a hub for domestic flights across eastern Indonesia. International air freight usually connects via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) in Jakarta or Juanda International Airport (SUB) in Surabaya. Sea freight runs through Makassar New Port, the city's new container terminal, alongside the older Soekarno-Hatta Port in the city centre.
Toll roads connect Makassar's port area with the airport, and the Trans-Sulawesi road runs north towards Parepare and the rest of the island. Makassar is a hub for inter-island shipping across eastern Indonesia, connecting Sulawesi with Kalimantan, Maluku and Papua. We arrange pick-up and delivery in the Makassar area.
Industries in Makassar and how we support them
Makassar is the gateway to Sulawesi and eastern Indonesia. The region exports fisheries products, seaweed, cocoa, coffee from Toraja and other agricultural goods, while nickel mining in South and Central Sulawesi drives demand for machinery, spare parts and services. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight via UPG and CGK on our own air waybills, Next Flight Out for urgent mining spare parts, On-Board Couriers for critical components and sea freight via Makassar New Port. Customs clearance is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
Operational logistics facts for Makassar
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG) | Domestic hub and regional air freight | Main airport for Sulawesi and eastern Indonesia |
| Makassar New Port | Containers and regional shipping | New container terminal for Sulawesi |
| Inter-island shipping hub | Domestic sea freight to eastern Indonesia | Connections to Kalimantan, Maluku and Papua |
| Sulawesi mining and agriculture | Nickel mining, cocoa, coffee, seafood | Spare parts by air, commodity exports 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
How does international air freight reach Makassar?
Most international shipments fly into CGK or SUB on our own air waybill and connect to UPG on a domestic flight. We plan the routing and transfer for each booking and confirm cut-off times.
Can you send urgent mining spare parts to Sulawesi?
Yes. We book Next Flight Out to UPG via Jakarta or Surabaya and arrange onward transport to the site. For critical parts, an On-Board Courier can carry them all the way.
Can you ship seafood or seaweed from Makassar?
Yes, provided the products meet the destination's import rules, such as health certificates. Seaweed and dried products often go by sea, while fresh seafood goes by air. We check the requirements before booking.
Where are imports for Makassar cleared?
Goods arriving directly at Makassar can be cleared there. Goods via Jakarta or Surabaya are usually cleared at the first point of entry. A partner team in the Ziem network handles clearance, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
Can you clear mining equipment imported into Sulawesi?
Yes. Mining equipment is declared like other imports, and some projects benefit from duty facilities that need supporting documents. We review the case with you and our partner team prepares the declaration.
Do cocoa or coffee exports from Sulawesi need special documents?
Cocoa and coffee exports may need phytosanitary certificates, certificates of origin and quality documents, and cocoa beans are subject to an export duty. We check the requirements and prepare the export file with our partner team.