Ocean and Air Shipping From the US to Indonesia

Information and quote from the US to Indonesia for LCL, FCL and Air shipping

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Updated on 28 Nov 2021

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The USA and Indonesia have kept a close relationship in trade ever since Indonesia gained independence in 1949. As the world’s third-largest democracy and the largest economy in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is a crucial partner in the Indo-Pacific region for the USA. It was the United States' 34th largest goods export market in 2018, with exports totaling $10.8 billion.

Maybe your business already contributes to that figure, or you are looking to import from the US to Indonesia for the first time.

In either case, you will find vital information on this page that will help you to navigate the traditional complexities of ocean and air shipping from the US to Indonesia.

What Are Your Options for Shipping Freight From the US to Indonesia?

Warehouse operative pushing a trolley, stacked with boxes, from the Flag of the United States towards the flag of Indonesia

Air and ocean shipping offer the only viable ways for businesses to import from the US to Indonesia. This page looks at the advantages and disadvantages of both, giving you the information you need to choose the best option for your supply chain.

Ocean Freight From the US to Indonesia

Less than Container Load (LCL): LCL means that goods from various companies are shipped together in the same container on a cargo vessel. This requires the consolidation of the cargo in the port of origin in the United States and their deconsolidation at the port of arrival in Indonesia. Both are essential steps in the process and usually result in LCL shipping taking longer than sending a full container.

Full Container Load (FCL): With an FCL service, an ocean carrier transports your goods, alone, in a shipping container from the US to Indonesia. It is typically the fastest form of ocean shipping because no consolidation or de-consolidation is required, unlike LCL. FCL can also be less expensive than LCL, depending on how much cargo you are shipping.

Air Freight from the US to Indonesia

There are no direct flights between the US and Indonesia, unfortunately. However, even if your cargo needs to transit once or twice, it will still reach its destination much quicker with an air carrier than by sea. Air freight is often the most expensive way to export from the US to Indonesia.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From the US to Indonesia?

Freight forwarders will give you a quote based on several factors, such as the following:

The nature of your goods
Chosen mode of transport (FCL, LCL, Air)
Weight of the cargo
Dimensions of the cargo
Distance between the origin and destination
Delivery terms

Up to a certain weight, there is little difference between the cost of air freight and LCL ocean freight. If you are shipping 100 kilograms or less, you can simply opt for the quicker option. For consignments above 100 kilograms, though, ocean freight is typically less expensive than flying your goods.

If you have light cargo of 35 kilograms or less, we would advise you to engage an international courier service instead of a freight forwarder. Shipa Freight doesn’t ship cargo in this weight bracket.

How Long Does it Take to Ship Cargo From the US to Indonesia?

With the Pacific Ocean separating the United States and Indonesia, transit times for both air and ocean shipping are lengthy. It is over 10,500 kilometers from Los Angeles on the West Coast and over 14,000 kilometers from New York on the East Coast to Indonesia.

Hourglass and a calendar to represent the transit time of shipments with Shipa Freight

No direct flights are currently in operation, and most commercial flights require at least two stops between the two countries.

Five days is usually the quickest a freight forwarder could deliver a shipment via air from the USA to Indonesia. Although the total flight time is just a few hours, keep in mind that your cargo has to undergo customs and security checks, as well as loading and unloading. FCL and LCL ocean shipping are considerably slower. Transit times range from 31 to 56 days.

How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Sea From the US to Indonesia?

Here are a few examples of transit times for routes that Shipa Freight operates between the US and Indonesia:

Atlanta to Jakarta – 31 days FCL
Charleston to Jakarta – 43 days FCL
Houston to Jakarta – 45 days FCL
Los Angeles to Jakarta – 33 days FCL
Long Beach to Jakarta – 35 days FCL
New York to Semarang – 44 days LCL
San Francisco to Surabaya – 56 days LCL
Oakland to Semarang - 29 days FCL

How Long Does It Take to Ship Cargo by Air From the US to Indonesia?

Here are a few examples of transit times for typical air-freight routes between the United States and Indonesia:

Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, or Miami to Jakarta – 6 days
Boston, New York or Los Angeles to Jakarta – 7 days
Miami to Surabaya – 5 days
Los Angeles to Denpasar – 5 days
Cleveland or San Francisco to Jakarta - 5 days

Customs Clearance in the US and Indonesia

When you export from the US to Indonesia, customs clearance will always be part of the process. It is wise to engage an experienced freight forwarder or agent for this task because you want to be certain that everything is done as per existing laws and regulations. Mistakes can be costly!

First, you will need to submit the necessary documentation. Usually, customs authorities request the following documents:

A Commercial Invoice
A Packing List
A Certificate of Origin
A Letter of Credit or other payment terms (depends on the contract between the parties involved)
An Airway Bill for air cargo or a Bill of Lading for ocean freight (you can leave this to Shipa Freight)

You can view samples of the above paperwork on this handy documents list page. Please note that customs authorities may require additional documents to be submitted with your shipment, such as a certificate, permit, or license. Much depends on the type of goods you are shipping.

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

Ocean Freight

Since Indonesia borders the South China Sea, which has the world’s busiest ocean trade lanes, sea freight is a great option to transport your cargo in a shipping container from the US to Indonesia. Indeed, if your consignment is too large to be sent as air freight, then door-to-door or port-to-port ocean shipping is your only option.

Most ocean freight will ship in a standard container from the US to Indonesia. These containers are usually 20 ft or 40 ft long and open at one end. 20ft containers can fit 10 or 11 standard pallets inside, with the bigger container having room for up to 21 pallets.

Other types of containers are available for consignments that require special conditions to be maintained during transit, such as refrigeration or ventilation. Half-height, open-top, and other specialist containers are available for awkwardly-shaped or extra-heavy cargo. Your forwarder will outline your options and help you decide which is best for you.

Forwarders will also use their expertise to help you decide between FCL or LCL ocean freight. We summarize both of these shipping modes below:

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL is often the best option for consignments that are
Small—no more than six standard pallets
Not urgent
Able to safely share a container with other goods

When choosing LCL shipping, you must understand that the essential logistics of consolidation and deconsolidation can cause LCL shipments to take longer than FCL.

You might wish to avoid LCL shipping if:

Your cargo has a specific delivery date
Your goods are fragile or perishable
Your freight is large, awkwardly-shaped, or otherwise unsuitable for sharing a container
Frequent moving or handling of your goods (as is required with LCL shipping) could cause damage

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

Importing from the US to Indonesia using an FCL service could be your best option if your business wants to ship:

Freight that must be in Indonesia by a specific date
Goods that are not suited to sharing a shipping container
Cargo that can be loaded and sealed by the supplier in the US
A consignment that the recipient can unload in Indonesia
Enough products to fill at least half the capacity of a shipping container

Air Freight

Air shipping is almost certain to be the best way to export from the US to Indonesia if:

Your goods have a limited shelf-life, such as plants, flowers, or food
Your consignment is urgent
Your cargo will occupy no more than three pallets
Your products are high-value, requiring the tight security levels employed by airlines and airport operators

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo Ports of Origin in the US

Los Angeles

Port Facts:

Largest port in the United States.
Covers nearly 70 km of California coastline.
Handles one-fifth of all cargo entering the US.
Facilities include eight container terminals and more than 80 cranes

Owned By: City of Los Angeles.

Annual Container Volume: >9 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: USLAX.

Long Beach

Port Facts:

Situated right alongside the Port of Los Angeles
Second-busiest port in the US for containers
Covers nearly 40 kilometers of waterfront in the city of Long Beach

Owned By: City of Long Beach.

Annual Container Volume: >8 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: USLGB.

Savannah

Port Facts

Located in the state of Georgia, 30 kilometers from the ocean on the Savannah River
Has the largest container terminal in North America
Access to interstate highways makes it the best choice for importers in the East and Midwest

Owned By: Georgia Ports Authority.

Annual Container Volume: >4 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: USSAV.

Seattle

Port Facts:

Has one of the largest container terminals on the west coast
Will be redeveloped to increase capacity and provide berths for the world's largest cargo vessels
Best choice for suppliers and manufacturers in the Northwest

Owned By: Northwest Seaport Alliance.

Annual Container Volume: >3.5 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: USSEA.

Miami

Port Facts:

Located in Biscayne Bay on Dodge Island
Ninth-largest port in the USA for containers and the largest port in Florida
Largest passenger port in the world

Owned By: Multiple owners.

Annual Container Volume: >1 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: USMIA.

Other Ports in the US

Aside from the five container gateways mentioned above, the following ports are suitable for exporting cargo to Indonesia:

New York
Houston
San Francisco
Oakland
New Orleans
Boston
Baltimore
Atlanta
Charleston
Norfolk
Tacoma
Port Everglades
Mobile

Cargo Ports of Arrival in Indonesia

Surabaya

Port Facts:

The premier port of East Java
Also called Tanjung Perak
Accessed via the narrow 40 kilometer-long Madura Strait
Hub for inter-island shipping within Indonesia

Owned By: PT Pelabuhan Indonesia II.

Annual Container Volume: >3.8 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: IDSUB.

Jakarta

Port Facts:

Cabang Tanjung Priok is located close to Indonesia’s capital
Handles more than 50% of Indonesia’s ocean freight
Facilities include three container terminals and a 16,800-meter quayside
Vast storage facilities with 660,000 square meter warehouse areas

Owned By: PT Pelabuhan Indonesia II.

Annual Container Volume: >8 million TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: IDJKT.

Semarang

Port Facts:

The third-largest port in Indonesia
Serves the northern coastal regions of Java
Best choice for importers in Demak, Salatiga, or Kendal

Owned By: PT Pelabuhan III Indonesia.

Annual Container Volume: >730,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: IDSRG.

Belawan Sumatra

Port Facts:

Main seaport for Northwestern Sumatra
Indonesia’s biggest port outside of Java
Popular port for cruise ships as well as cargo vessels

Owned By: Pelni.

Annual Container Volume: >400,000 TEUs.

UN/LOCODE: IDBLW.

Flying Your Freight: Airport Guide