Indonesia’s Directorate General of Customs and Excise plans to implement an artificial intelligence–based monitoring system to oversee export and import activities nationwide starting in 2026. The initiative, which will be centrally managed from Jakarta, aims to strengthen supervision at ports and improve the early detection of under-invoicing practices. Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa explained that the AI system will automatically compare declared prices of goods with real-time market prices, enabling faster and more accurate oversight. This reform is part of a broader effort to modernize customs operations and enhance transparency, following directives from President Prabowo Subianto.
The AI system is expected to significantly increase efficiency compared with the current manual process, which is time-consuming and limited in daily capacity. By centralizing price benchmarks, local offices will no longer independently determine reference prices, reducing the risk of irregularities. The technology is scheduled to be rolled out at major ports with large economic activity, with an initial target implementation in March 2026. In parallel, Customs and Excise is upgrading supporting infrastructure, including the addition of new cargo scanners at key ports such as Tanjung Priok and expansion to other regions. The government remains confident that, supported by capable personnel and improved systems, these technological upgrades will create a more efficient, credible, and modern customs administration.
