Pelindo Ready to Support the Acceleration of Import Container Release

Jakarta, May 20, 2024 - Pelindo welcomes the relaxation of import regulations through the issuance of Permendag No. 8 of 2024, along with its derivative regulation Decree of the Minister of Finance (KMK) No. 17 of 2024. For this reason, Pelindo is ready to fully support the acceleration of the container release process by coordinating with port agencies/stakeholders.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto asked all levels at the port to work 24/7 including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

“In accordance with the direction of the President, everyone should work 24 hours to release the goods so that the goods can be released immediately,” Airlangga said when conducting a direct review of the implementation of the import relaxation policy at Tanjung Priok Port on May 18, 2024.

In line with that, in the same activity the Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani Indrawati asked for the readiness of the entire ecosystem at this port, not only Customs but also other institutions including Quarantine, the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM), Pelindo, and other related agencies.

Following up on this, Pelindo is ready to carry out the direction of the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and the Minister of Finance to work 24/7 together with stakeholders at the port, to accelerate the release of containers.

Pelindo emphasized that the accumulation of containers certainly does not interfere with port operations, both at Tanjung Priok Port and Tanjung Perak Port. The density indicator in the terminal, namely the Yard Occupancy Ratio (YOR), in all container terminals managed by Pelindo is still below 60%.

“For information, from April 2024 data for container terminals in Tanjung Priok, the YOR of each is JICT 51.61%, TPK Koja 43.00%, IPC TPK 51.75%, and NPCT1 36.00%. The terminal can be said to be congested when the figure is above 70%. Thus, operations in the terminal are still safely under control,” explained Pelindo President Director Arif Suhartono.

Currently, Pelindo's container terminal services are based on integrated planning and control which can speed up the loading and unloading process and container identification. In addition, several terminals have implemented the Terminal Booking System (TBS) and single truck identification system (STID) to organize truck queues at the time of receiving/delivery so as to prevent congestion, such as at the JICT Jakarta terminal.

The import relaxation policy was also welcomed by the Indonesian Logistics and Forwarders Association (ALFI/ILFA). Chairman of ALFI/ILFA East Java, Sebastian Wibisono, said that with this regulation, it is hoped that containers that have been piled up can be released immediately.

“We are always ready to oversee government regulations governing trade regulations, which protect domestic business actors, while maintaining a smooth logistics chain. Thus, exporters and importers will be helped,” said Sebastian.

Sebastian added that so far the goods release service at Pelindo, especially at the Surabaya Container Terminal and Teluk Lamong, has run smoothly thanks to digitalization and good communication.

“Pelindo intensively coordinates with port agencies/stakeholders to jointly monitor and overcome the completion of the release of containers at the Port of Tanjung Priok and Tanjung Perak 24/7,” concluded Arif.