 The town has a ferry terminal with services to Port Klang, Malaysia, and the city-island of Singapore.It was formerly a district of Asahan Regency until it was elevated to city status, but the tag "Asahan" is still used to distinguish it from the port of the same name on Great Karimun island.After the separation of Tanjungbalai from Asahan Regency, it technically becomes an enclave within Asahan Regency.