Singapore to Batam is one of the shortest international freight lanes in the region, but it is not a domestic move: Batam is an Indonesian Free Trade Zone (KPBPB Batam) with its own customs rules. IndoExpress, a licensed Jakarta freight forwarder and customs broker since 2005, handles the sea or air leg, the FTZ entry documents, and delivery to your consignee's door in Batam, or onward to Jakarta.
Consolidated cargo and containers move on scheduled feeders and barges between Singapore and Batam's cargo ports, mainly Batu Ampar. Best for pallets, machinery, project cargo and anything over a few hundred kilograms.
Air
Urgent or high-value goods fly into Hang Nadim International Airport (BTH). Useful for spare parts, samples and electronics where a day matters more than the rate.
FTZ customs
Entry into the zone uses FTZ declarations (PPFTZ) and the consignee's BP Batam registration. We prepare and lodge them, and advise when duty and tax will apply.
Door-to-door
Pickup at your Singapore supplier or warehouse, delivery to the address in Batam, or a second leg to Jakarta and other Indonesian cities if the goods leave the FTZ.
Batam Free Trade Zone in Plain Words
Batam, Bintan and Karimun form Indonesia's free trade and free port area. For a business registered in the zone, goods brought in from Singapore are generally not charged import duty, VAT or luxury tax while they remain inside the zone. This is why many Singapore-based companies keep stock or assembly in Batam. The trade-off: when goods are shipped out of the zone into the rest of Indonesia (for example a Batam factory selling to Jakarta), a customs declaration is lodged and duty and taxes are settled at that point. Whether a preferential rate applies then depends on the origin documents, such as an ASEAN Form D.
Practically, this means three questions decide your shipment: is the consignee registered with BP Batam, are the goods within its approved list, and will the goods stay in Batam or move on? Send us those answers and we can tell you the route, the documents and the cost.
What We Need for a Quote
Cargo: description, HS code if known, weight and dimensions (or CBM), value.
Pickup point in Singapore and the delivery address in Batam (or onward destination).
Consignee status: BP Batam registered business, or a company outside the zone (then we route via Jakarta or arrange FTZ exit).
Timing: sea for cost, air for speed.
We do not publish Singapore-Batam prices yet; quotes are issued on request within one working day and follow the same transparent structure as our app. Insurance is optional and quoted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is import duty payable when goods enter Batam from Singapore?
Batam is a Free Trade Zone (KPBPB). Goods entering the zone for registered FTZ businesses are generally exempt from import duty, VAT and luxury tax while they stay inside the zone. Duty and taxes become payable when the goods are moved on to the rest of Indonesia. The exemption depends on the consignee being registered with BP Batam and the goods being within its approved list, so we check this before shipping.
How long does Singapore to Batam take?
The crossing itself is short; total time depends on the mode and on customs. Consolidated sea cargo usually moves on scheduled feeder or barge sailings, while air cargo routes through Hang Nadim (BTH). We give a transit estimate with every quote based on the sailing or flight actually used.
Do you publish Singapore to Batam rates?
Not yet in our app. Our published rates cover Singapore to Jakarta (see the link above). Batam is quoted on request within one working day once we know the cargo details, because FTZ handling and the destination inside Batam affect the price.
Can you deliver to the door inside Batam, or forward to Jakarta?
Both. We deliver door-to-door within Batam (Batam Centre, Batu Ampar, Nongsa, Sekupang and industrial estates) and can also forward cargo onward to Jakarta or other cities. If the goods leave the FTZ, we handle the PPFTZ documents and the duty and tax settlement.
Which documents do we need?
Commercial invoice, packing list, and where relevant a Form D (ATIGA) for preferential duty when the goods later leave the FTZ, the consignee's BP Batam registration, and any product permits (e.g. SNI, BPOM) if the goods are restricted. We review the list with you before departure.
Do you buy goods in Singapore for me?
No. We are a freight forwarder and customs broker, not a purchasing or jastip service. You buy from your supplier; we collect, ship, clear customs and deliver.