International shipping guide to Indonesia

If you have goods or materials that need shipping to Indonesia from the US or other global locations, they will have to go via an ocean or air freight lane, since Indonesia is an island archipelago. However, it is also an emerging e-commerce market with lots of room for growth, which potentially means the volume of imports from around the world will increase substantially over time.

This is a fact recognized by many a shipping company in Indonesia, as well as by all the major global logistics providers and shipping lines.

As a result, there are many options to import to Indonesia from almost any point of origin. Nevertheless, it can never hurt to know about some of the most important air and ocean shipping routes, or to become familiar with some of the shipping and customs standards for Indonesian imports.

That’s why we’ve created this page, to share some information that should be useful if you plan to ship commercial goods to Indonesia—or even if you are already doing so.

Customs Facts to be Aware of When Shipping to Indonesia

Before you can legally ship goods across the Indonesian border, you will need to register as an importer and obtain an NIK or customs identification number. NIKs are issued by the Indonesian Directorate General of Customs and Excise. You will also need an Importer Identification Number or API, as it is otherwise known. In fact, the API is essentially a license to import, so there is no possibility of shipping goods to Indonesia without one.

Customs and Logistics in Indonesia Can be Challenging

After you have registered as an importer and have your NIK and API numbers, you can engage in freight shipping to Indonesia from US or other overseas ports. However, we strongly recommend that you enlist the help of a company specializing in freight forwarding in Indonesia.

As in some other Southeast Asian countries, customs procedures in Indonesia can take a long time to finalize. It can also be difficult to deal with the customs service directly if any problems arise with your shipment’s clearance. When you have the support of a provider familiar with customs and logistics in Indonesia, issues are less likely to arise and will be easier to resolve if they do.

The Indonesian ‘Undername Importer’ Service Concept

If you don’t wish to expend the time and effort required to register as an importer in Indonesia—a process that can take 12 weeks or more—you may be able to use the services of an “undername” importer, which is a company that acts as the importer on your behalf, but maintains its own importation credentials and licenses.

A number of shipping companies in Indonesia provide this service, but as you will be placing all control of your goods into their hands, it is important to exercise due diligence and be sure you are engaging a company that you can trust. Many foreign companies prefer to go through the full process of importer registration, and then partner with a known freight forwarding company for shipping and assistance with customs clearance.

Shipping to Indonesia: Prohibitions and Restrictions

No practical guide on importing to Indonesia would gloss over the fact that it is less straightforward than in many other countries. Aside from lengthy and complex registration and licensing procedures, the Indonesian government places some significantly burdensome restrictions and regulations on importers.

The range of products, goods, and materials that require import licensing (over and above the API license) is substantial, and includes many electronic products, cosmetics, beverages and food products, footwear, toys, household appliances, and textiles. Agricultural products are also heavily regulated.

Furthermore, Indonesia makes use of quantitative restrictions on certain products, including poultry feeds and sugar products. Of course, the good news is that with these rather stringent barriers for importers to overcome, those with the fortitude to navigate the complex landscape stand to enjoy a market in which competitive challenges are fewer than elsewhere.

Ocean Freight Forwarding to Indonesia

In the following sections of this page, you will find some information relating to the trade lanes used by shipping companies in Indonesia and worldwide for importing commercial goods. Let’s begin with ocean shipping to Indonesia, which is the most economical, but also the slowest way of transporting goods internationally.

Although you will find the information here mainly relates to port-to-port shipping, Shipa Freight offers a range of options for transporting your freight, including port-to-door and door-to-door shipping to any location in the Indonesian archipelago.

5 Top Ocean Freight Trade Lanes to Indonesia

As you will see from the tables in this section, it’s possible to access freight forwarding to Indonesia from many locations around the world, but by far the busiest ocean lanes are those channeling freight from other Asian countries, China in particular.

In fact, many top ocean freight routes to Indonesia connect the archipelago with mainland China, including four of the following five, each of which is a major arterial route for Indonesian imports:

• Shanghai (China) to Jakarta
• Shanghai (China)to Surabaya
• Ningbo (China) to Jakarta
• Ningbo (China) to Surabaya
• Singapore to Jakarta

The Long and Short of Ocean Forwarding to Indonesia

It might seem like common sense to assume that shipping to Indonesia from US ports involves the longest transit times, but that’s actually not the case. In fact, the longest routes to Indonesia are those originating in Northern European countries, such as the trade lane connecting Klaipeda in Lithuania with Jakarta, which involves a staggering 50 days of transit time.

The shortest international ocean route to Indonesia meanwhile, is also one of the busiest. Hundreds of ships regularly ply the lane between Singapore and Jakarta, a journey that takes little more than a day for container ships to complete.

List of Ocean Routes for Shipping to Indonesia

From America

Country of Origin	Port of Origin	Destination Port	Duration
Canada	Vancouver	Jakarta	26 Days
Canada	Montreal	Jakarta	45 days
United States	Atlanta	Jakarta	35 Days
United States	Baltimore	Jakarta	43 Days
United States	Boston	Jakarta	41 Days
United States	Houston	Jakarta	45 days
United States	Oakland	Jakarta	40 Days
United States	Miami	Surabaya	45 days
United States	Miami	Jakarta	47 Days
United States	Norfolk	Surabaya	39 Days
United States	Norfolk	Jakarta	40 Days
United States	Seattle	Jakarta	29 Days
United States	Seattle	Surabaya	31 Days
United States	Mobile	Jakarta	35 Days
United States	Mobile	Surabaya	43 Days
United States	Los Angeles	Jakarta	24 Days
United States	Long Beach	Jakarta	23 Days
United States	Long Beach	Surabaya	36 Days
United States	Los Angeles	Surabaya	35 Days
United States	Tacoma	Jakarta	30 Days
United States	Tacoma	Surabaya	32 Days
United States	Savannah	Jakarta	44 Days
United States	Savannah	Surabaya	42 Days
United States	Charleston	Surabaya	46 Days
United States	Charleston	Jakarta	42Days
United States	Port Everglades	Jakarta	48 Days
United States	Port Everglades	Surabaya	46 days

From Europe

Country of Origin	Port of Origin	Destination Port	Duration
Belgium	Antwerp	Surabaya	39 Days
Belgium	Antwerp	Jakarta	31 Days
Denmark	Aarhus	Jakarta	43 Days
Denmark	Copenhagen	Jakarta	47 Days
Finland	Helsinki	Jakarta	49 Days
France	Fos-sur-Mer	Jakarta	35 Days
Germany	Bremerhaven	Jakarta	33 Days
Germany	Bremerhaven	Surabaya	36 Days
Germany	Hamburg	Jakarta	37 Days
Italy	Ancona	Jakarta	40 Days
Italy	Genoa	Jakarta	36 Days
Lithuania	Klaipeda	Jakarta	50 Days
Netherlands	Rotterdam	Jakarta	39 Days
Norway	Oslo	Jakarta	49 Days
Poland	Gdansk	Jakarta	40 Days
Portugal	Lisbon	Jakarta	43 Days
Russia	Arkhangelsk	Jakarta	45 Days
Russia	Vladivostok	Jakarta	22 Days
Slovenia	Koper	Jakarta	32 Days
Slovenia	Koper	Surabaya	33 Days
Spain	Algeciras	Jakarta	36 Days
Spain	Barcelona	Surabaya	28 Days
Spain	Barcelona	Jakarta	31 Days
Spain	Bilbao	Jakarta	45 Days
Spain	Valencia	Surabaya	32 Days
Spain	Valencia	Jakarta	31 Days
Sweden	Gothenburg	Surabaya	40 Days
Sweden	Gothenburg	Jakarta	34 Days
United Kingdom	Belfast	Jakarta	45 Days
United Kingdom	Grangemouth	Jakarta	43 Days
United Kingdom	London Gateway	Surabaya	32 Days
United Kingdom	London Gateway	Jakarta	29 Days
United Kingdom	Felixstowe	Surabaya	32 Days
United Kingdom	Felixstowe	Jakarta	29 Days
United Kingdom	Southampton	Surabaya	31 Days
United Kingdom	Southampton	Jakarta	30 Days

From Africa and the Middle East

Country of Origin	Port of Origin	Destination Port	Duration
Morocco	Casablanca	Jakarta	40 Days
Saudi Arabia	Ad Dammam	Jakarta	14 Days
Saudi Arabia	Jeddah	Jakarta	25 Days
Saudi Arabia	Jeddah	Surabaya	25 Days
Saudi Arabia	Riyadh	Jakarta	29 Days
Saudi Arabia	Riyadh	Surabaya	31 Days
UAE	Jebel Ali	Jakarta	20 Days
UAE	Jebel Ali	Surabaya	22 days
UAE	Abu Dhabi	Jakarta	17 Days

From Asia and Oceania

Country of Origin	Port of Origin	Destination Port	Duration
Australia	Adelaide	Jakarta	13 Days
Australia	Brisbane	Jakarta	15 Days
Australia	Fremantle	Jakarta	9 Days
Australia	Melbourne	Jakarta	10 Days
Australia	Sydney	Jakarta	13 Days
Bangladesh	Chittagong	Jakarta	10 Days
Bangladesh	Chittagong	Surabaya	12 Days
China	Dalian	Jakarta	20 Days
China	Dalian	Surabaya	27 Days
China	Shanghai	Jakarta	9 Days
China	Shanghai	Surabaya	14 Days
China	Shanghai	Semarang	11 Days
Shanghai	Semarang	11 Days	China
China	Ningbo	Surabaya	12 Days
China	Nansha	Jakarta	7 Days
China	Nansha	Surabaya	9 Days
China	Ningbo	Semarang	12 Days
China	Ningbo	Jakarta	11 Days
China	Qingdao	Jakarta	13 Days
China	Qingdao	Surabaya	18 Days
China	Qingdao	Semarang	17 Days
China	Xiamen	Jakarta	11 Days
China	Guangzhou	Jakarta	10 Days
China	Xiamen	Surabaya	12 Days
China	Shenzhen	Surabaya	9 Days
China	Shenzhen	Jakarta	9 Days
China	Changsha	Jakarta	32 Days
Hong Kong	Hong Kong	Jakarta	6 Days
Hong Kong	Hong Kong	Surabaya	10 Days
Hong Kong	Hong Kong	Semarang	7 Days
India	Chennai	Jakarta	14 Days
Japan	Nagoya	Jakarta	10 Days
Japan	Nagoya	Surabaya	15 Days
Japan	Tokyo	Surabaya	14 Days
Japan	Kobe	Surabaya	11 Days
Japan	Tokyo	Jakarta	12 Days
Japan	Kobe	Jakarta	9 Days
Japan	Yokohama	Jakarta	11 Days
Japan	Shimizu	Surabaya	12 Days
Japan	Yokohama	Surabaya	14 Days
Malaysia	Tanjung Pelepas	Jakarta	6 Days
Malaysia	Tanjung Pelepas	Surabaya	4 Days
Malaysia	Tanjung Pelepas	Belawan	2 Days
Malaysia	Tanjung Pelepas	Semarang	6 Days
Malaysia	Port Klang	Jakarta	4 Days
Malaysia	Port Klang	Surabaya	6 Days
Malaysia	Port Klang	Belawan	2 Days
Malaysia	Port Klang	Semarang	3 Days
Malaysia	Penang	Surabaya	6 Days
Malaysia	Penang	Semarang	8 Days
New Zealand	Auckland	Jakarta	24 Days
Philippines	Manila	Jakarta	9 Days
Philippines	Cebu	Jakarta	11 Days
Singapore	Singapore	Jakarta	1 Day
Singapore	Singapore	Surabaya	2 Days
Singapore	Singapore	Belawan	5 Days
Singapore	Singapore	Semarang	4 Days
South Korea	Kwangyang	Jakarta	13 Days
South Korea	Busan	Jakarta	14 Days
South Korea	Kwangyang	Surabaya	10 Days
South Korea	Busan	Surabaya	11 Days
Sri Lanka	Colombo	Jakarta	11 Days
Sri Lanka	Colombo	Surabaya	11 Days
Taiwan	Kaohsiung	Surabaya	9 Days
Taiwan	Kaohsiung	Jakarta	12 Days
Taiwan	Taichung	Surabaya	7 Days
Taiwan	Taipei	Surabaya	8 Days
Thailand	Laem Chabang	Belawan	6 Days
Thailand	Laem Chabang	Jakarta	5 Days
Vietnam	Haiphong	Jakarta	9 Days
Vietnam	Ho Chi Minh City	Jakarta	2 Days

Air Freight Trade Lanes for Shipping to Indonesia

The information presented here relates to some of the main air freight routes serving Indonesia. You may notice that we only cover airport-to-airport shipping legs on this page, but Shipa Freight also provides a full range of solutions for logistics in Indonesia, including port-to-door and door-to-door services to any destination in the archipelago.

Air freight will get your goods to Indonesia much faster than ocean freight service, but is of course, more expensive. If you are just shipping small packages, then a courier service to Indonesia will be your best option. On the other hand, if you need fast shipping for larger quantities of goods, then it makes sense to look for a shipping company in Indonesia or a global freight forwarder that offers air freight services.

Busiest Routes for Air Freight to Indonesia

In fact, there is one very good reason to use air freight when you need goods forwarding to Indonesia, and it relates to the fact that the country comprises thousands of islands.

Internal logistics in Indonesia can be complicated, especially if you use ocean freight and then need your goods to go to a location far from one of the main ocean ports.

Air freight can sometimes reduce land-transport distances by getting your shipments closer to their final destination. For this reason, it’s also worth exploring multimodal shipping, perhaps using ocean freight to get your shipment to one of the major Asian freight hubs, then switching to a low-cost air freight service for the final transportation leg to Indonesia, which is only a short flight away.

In fact, the busiest air freight routes to Indonesia are those originating in two of the key freight centers in Asia—Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. For that reason, you should have little trouble finding a flight for your goods after they arrive in one of these hubs by ocean service.

All of our top five high-volume air freight lanes to Indonesia begin in either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. This includes the following:

• Singapore(Singapore) to Jakarta
• Kuala Lumpur(Malaysia) to Jakarta
• Singapore(Singapore) to Denpasar
• Kuala Lumpur(Malaysia) to Denpasar
• Kuala Lumpur(Malaysia) to Surabaya

Longest and Shortest Air Freight Lanes to Indonesia

As already mentioned, the route from Singapore to Jakarta is one of the busiest for carrying air freight to Indonesia. It also happens to be the shortest international route for freight forwarding to Indonesia, with a transit time of just 2 hours.

The longest air freight transit-time for shipping to Indonesia is 14 hours. That’s the time in flight for cargo shipped from London Heathrow in the United Kingdom, to Jakarta. The transit time from Amsterdam to Jakarta is also 14 hours.

Air Freight: Routes for Shipping to Indonesia

From Europe

Country of Origin	Airport of Origin	Destination Airport	Duration(Approx.)
Netherlands	Amsterdam	Jakarta	14 Hours
United Kingdom	London Heathrow	Jakarta	14 Hours

From Asia/Oceania

Country of Origin	Airport of Origin	Destination Airport	Duration(Approx.)
Australia	Sydney	Jakarta	7 Hours
Australia	Brisbane	Denpasar	6 Hours
Australia	Sydney	Denpasar	6 Hours
Australia	Melbourne	Denpasar	6 Hours
China	Guangzhou	Jakarta	5 Hours
China	Wuhan	Denpasar	6 Hours
China	Xiamen	Jakarta	5 Hours
China	Xiamen	Denpasar	5 Hours
China	Beijing	Jakarta	6 Hours
China	Beijing	Denpasar	7 Hours
China	Shenzhen	Jakarta	5 Hours
China	Shanghai	Jakarta	5 Hours
China	Shanghai	Denpasar	6 Hours
Hong Kong	Hong Kong	Jakarta	5 Hours
Hong Kong	Hong Kong	Denpasar	5 Hours
Hong Kong	Hong Kong	Surabaya	4 Hours
Malaysia	Penang	Jakarta	2 Hours
Malaysia	Kuala Lumpur	Surabaya	3 Hours
Malaysia	Kuala Lumpur	Denpasar	3 Hours
Philippines	Manila	Jakarta	4 Hours
Philippines	Manila	Denpasar	4 Hours
South Korea	Seoul	Jakarta	6 Hours
South Korea	Seoul	Denpasar	7 Hours
Singapore	Singapore	Jakarta	2 Hours
Singapore	Singapore	Surabaya	2 Hours
Singapore	Singapore	Denpasar	3 Hours
Thailand	Bangkok	Denpasar	4 Hours
Thailand	Bangkok	Jakarta	3 Hours
Taiwan	Taipei	Jakarta	5 Hours

From Africa and the Middle East

Country of Origin	Airport of Origin	Destination Airport	Duration(Approx.)
Oman	Muscat	Jakarta	8 Hours
Qatar	Doha	Jakarta	9 Hours
Saudi Arabia	Jeddah	Jakarta	10 Hours
Turkey	Istanbul	Jakarta	11 Hours
United Arab Emirates	Dubai	Jakarta	8 Hours
United Arab Emirates	Abu Dhabi	Jakarta	8 Hours

We’re Not a Shipping Company in Indonesia - We’re Everywhere

When you need freight shipping to Indonesia from the US, or from any location requiring air or ocean freight, you have the option to look for a shipping company in Indonesia, or to choose an international freight forwarder.

Alternatively, you could book your shipments with Shipa Freight, and have the best of both worlds. Our platform makes it easy for you to send freight anywhere.

Meanwhile, our parent company, Agility Logistics, has divisions in Indonesia and around 100 other countries worldwide, so we offer the convenience of online freight quotes, booking, tracking, and payment, with the local knowledge and resources to get your shipments smoothly across borders and on to their final destinations.

Better still, there is no complex process required for you to start getting quotes and making bookings. In fact, you can use our platform right now to get your first quote for shipping to Indonesia.