UN/LOCODE: IDDJB📍 Indonesia
Port of Jambi, Sumatra (UN/LOCODE IDDJB)
❖ Coordinates: -1.6101°N, 103.6131°E
❖ Time Zone: Asia/Jakarta
❖ UN/LOCODE: IDDJB
## About the Port
Jambi Port (UN/LOCODE: **IDDJB**) sits on the western flank of the Batang Hari River estuary, 10 km inland from the Java Sea at **‑1.6101229 °S, 103.6131203 °E**. Administratively part of Jambi Province, Indonesia, the port operates on **Asia/Jakarta (UTC+7)** time. It serves as the primary gateway for the central‐east coast of Sumatra, handling both bulk and containerised traffic for a catchment area that includes the provinces of Jambi, South Sumatra and parts of West Sumatra. Managed by PT Pelabuhan Jambi (a state‑owned enterprise under the Ministry of Transportation), the facility blends natural riverine depth with engineered berths, enabling the handling of vessels up to **100 000 DWT** during high tide.
The port’s strategic location—approximately 350 nm north‑west of the busy Singapore–Malaysia maritime corridor—makes it a natural transshipment hub for palm‑oil, timber, and mineral exports from the interior of Sumatra. Its connectivity is reinforced by the Trans‑Sumatra Highway (Trans‑Sumatra Toll Road) and the Trans‑Java Railway extension, providing multimodal links to inland production centres and to neighbouring ports such as Belawan (North Sumatra) and Tanjung Perak (Surabaya).
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## History
The origins of Jambi Port trace back to the early 19th century when Dutch colonial authorities established a modest river wharf to export pepper and gambier. The settlement grew around the historic **Sultanate of Jambi**, whose trade network linked the interior highlands with the wider Indian Ocean system. After Indonesian independence in 1945, the port was nationalised and gradually expanded under the New Order’s infrastructure drive.
Key milestones include:
- **1964–1972:** Construction of the first deep‑water berth (12 m draft) and a basic cargo handling crane, enabling the port to accommodate small steamers.
- **1985:** Introduction of container handling equipment, aligning Jambi with the global shift toward containerisation.
- **1999–2005:** Post‑Asian financial crisis investment programme that added two berths, modern refrigerated storage, and a dedicated oil terminal.
- **2015–2021:** Comprehensive dredging campaign and the installation of a 30‑meter‑wide roll‑on/roll‑off (Ro‑Ro) ramp, supporting the surge in vehicle and livestock exports.
These phased upgrades have transformed Jambi from a riverine outpost into a full‑service deep‑sea port, capable of supporting the region’s expanding heavy‑industry and agro‑industrial sectors.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Berths & Draft
- **4 General Cargo Berths** (2 × 12 m, 1 × 13 m, 1 × 14 m draft) – suitable for bulk carriers, dry bulk, and general cargo vessels up to **80 000 DWT**.
- **2 Container Berths** (12 m draft) equipped with Super‑Post Pneumatic cranes (30 t lift) and a **20‑Container‑Vessel (CCV)** handling system for vessels up to **4 000 TEU**.
- **1 Ro‑Ro Berth** (13 m draft) with a 350 m quay length, supporting car‑carrier and livestock ships.
### Cargo Handling Equipment
- **6 Reach Stackers** (30 t) and **4 Forklifts** (10 t) for container and break‑bulk operations.
- **2 Mobile Harbor Cranes** (30 t) for heavy lift projects, frequently deployed on timber and ore shipments.
- **4 Refrigerated (Reefer) Storage Pods** (total 3 000 m³) for perishable goods, primarily frozen seafood and palm‑oil derivatives.
### Storage & Logistics
- **Open Ground Storage:** 150 ha of paved yard with a capacity of **400 000 t** of bulk cargo.
- **Warehouse Space:** 25 000 m² of climate‑controlled warehouses, integrated with a Warehouse Management System (WMS) that connects to the Indonesian Port Community System (PCS).
### Support Services
- **Customs & Quarantine:** Fully automated electronic filing platform per the *Indonesia Customs Information System (CIT)*, reducing clearance times to an average of **6 hours** for containerized cargo.
- **Pilotage & Tug Services:** Two 3,500 hp tugs and 24/7 pilotage, complying with IMO’s International Code of Signals.
- **Safety & Security:** ISO 9001:2015 certified safety management, ISO 14001 environmental management, and compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
For a detailed technical overview, consult the **Indonesian Ministry of Transportation’s port database** (https://transportasi.go.id).
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## Economic Importance
Jambi Port contributes over **USD 2.5 billion** annually to Indonesia’s export earnings, accounting for roughly **8 %** of Sumatra’s total seaborne trade. The port’s cargo mix—approximately **55 %** bulk (coal, iron ore, limestone), **30 %** containerised (electronics, textiles, finished palm‑oil products), and **15 %** Ro‑Ro/vehicle shipments—mirrors the diversified industrial base of the hinterland.
Key economic impacts include:
- **Palm‑Oil Supply Chain:** The Jambi region hosts the world’s third‑largest palm‑oil plantation area. The port’s refrigerated storage and bulk handling facilities enable the export of **≈ 2 Mt** of crude palm‑oil and refined products each year, feeding markets in Europe, the Middle East, and China.
- **Timber & Plywood:** Sustainable timber from the interior forests is processed in Jambi’s wood‑processing parks and shipped via the port’s heavy‑lift cranes, supporting a **USD 650 m** value chain.
- **Mining:** Coal from the nearby Batang Toru basin and iron ore from the Muara Enim district are loaded on bulk carriers at the port’s deep‑water berths, feeding the steel industry of Southeast Asia.
The port’s development has also spurred ancillary industries: logistics firms, ship‑repair yards, and a growing free‑trade zone that offers tax incentives for exporters. Employment directly generated by the port exceeds **5 000** individuals, with indirect jobs—spanning transport, warehousing, and services—estimated at **> 25 000**.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Export Routes
| Destination | Approx. Distance (nm) | Typical Vessel Type |
|------------|-----------------------|---------------------|
| **Singapore** | 340 | Feeder container ships (4 000 TEU) |
| **Rotterdam (NL)** | 10 400 | Pan‑amax bulk carriers (≈ 80 000 DWT) |
| **Dubai (UAE)** | 4 300 | Aframax tankers (≈ 120 000 DWT) |
| **Shanghai (CN)** | 4 800 | Pan‑amax container ships (≈ 10 000 TEU) |
| **Surabaya (Indonesia)** | 260 | Ro‑Ro vessels (≈ 3 000 GT) |
The **Singapore‑Rotterdam** corridor remains the most lucrative, especially for coal and iron ore, while the **Jambi‑Dubai** lane dominates the palm‑oil trade.
### Major Cargo Types
- **Crude Palm‑Oil (CPO)** – 1.8 Mt/year; predominantly shipped in **tanker‑type bulk carriers** with insulated holds.
- **Coal** – 2.4 Mt/year; primarily Indonesian thermal coal destined for power‑generation markets in India and China.
- **Timber & Plywood** – 0.7 Mt/year; loaded on **general cargo vessels** equipped with deck cranes for oversized lumber.
- **Containerised Goods** – 5 000 TEU/month; includes finished electronics, textile garments, and automotive parts.
- **Vehicles & Livestock** – 120 000 units/year; handled on the Ro‑Ro berth, with specialized quayside ramps for live‑animal transport.
### Emerging Trade Opportunities
The **Jambi‑Vietnam** corridor is gaining traction, driven by demand for Indonesian timber in Vietnamese furniture factories. Likewise, the port is positioning itself as a **transshipment hub for Chinese‑origin re‑exports**, leveraging its deep‑draft berths and increasing container handling capacity.
Investors are closely watching the ongoing **Kuala Namu‑Jambi inter‑modal link**, a proposed rail corridor that would shave 12 hours off cargo transit times between Sumatra’s eastern ports and the hinterland, potentially unlocking new bulk‑commodity flows.
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*This article synthesises data from the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation, PT Pelabuhan Jambi, and international maritime statistics portals. For further technical specifications, see the United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations (UN/LOCODE) entry for Jambi (IDDJB).*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
IDDJB
Country
Indonesia
Province / Region
Jambi
Latitude
-1.610123
Longitude
103.613120
Timezone
Asia/Jakarta
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Jambi, Sumatra?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Jambi, Sumatra is IDDJB.
Where is Port of Jambi, Sumatra located?
The Port of Jambi, Sumatra is located in Indonesia, Jambi. Its coordinates are -1.6101°N, 103.6131°E.
What time zone is Port of Jambi, Sumatra in?
Port of Jambi, Sumatra operates in the Asia/Jakarta time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
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