Japfa Comfeed Indonesia on August 27 exported over 28,500 live chickens from Bintan to Singapore, underscoring growing cross-border cooperation in food security.
Shipped by Indojaya Agrinusa, a subsidiary of the company, the chickens, transported in six containers aboard the Regent Libra vessel, endured a 10-hour sea journey.
With each chicken weighing 1.8-2 kg and priced at around USD 1.49 per kg, the shipment is valued at approximately USD 109,000.
Sixth shipment and production expansion
Anwar Tandiono, Vice President Head of Feed Operation for Sumatera at Japfa, said demand from Singapore remains high.
“This is our sixth export to Singapore. We hope to stabilize production so we can ship more regularly,” he said.
Japfa aims to increase monthly production from 400,000 birds today to around 600,000-800,000 birds in the future.
While exports are growing, Japfa stressed that local needs for chicken in Bintan, Tanjungpinang, and Batam remain a priority. Currently, Japfa produces around 21,000 birds per day, while Batam alone requires about 50,000 birds daily.
The company signaled openness to new partnerships to expand capacity and meet both domestic and export demand.
Animal health and food safety
To ensure quality and food safety, all exported chickens underwent veterinary checks.
Iwan Berri Prima, Head of Livestock and Animal Health at Bintan’s Agriculture, Food Security and Fisheries Office, confirmed the issuance of the animal health certificate.
This document allowed the quarantine office to release a veterinary certificate, ensuring the shipment complied with Indonesian export regulations.
Strategic cross-border cooperation
The exports highlight the potential of Bintan as a key player in supporting Singapore’s poultry supply following recent regional food security challenges.
The poultry trade comes as Singapore continues diversifying its food sources amid regional supply uncertainties.
For Indonesia, particularly Bintan and Batam, the exports not only boost local agribusiness but also strengthen economic ties with Singapore under the broader Johor-Singapore-Riau growth triangle.
The Bintan-Singapore poultry trade signals a deepening of cross-border food security cooperation.
While exports provide economic opportunities for Indonesian producers like Japfa, authorities emphasize that domestic demand in Batam and surrounding islands will remain a priority.
For both Indonesia and Singapore, the partnership highlights the importance of regional integration in ensuring stable and sustainable food supplies.