Shipping guide · Asia Pacific

Shipping from China and Hong Kong to Indonesia

Indonesia regulates imports actively, and the two things that decide whether a shipment works are the importer licence the company holds and whether the goods fall on the LARTAS list of restricted items.

Talk to us about Indonesia
Customs authority
Directorate General of Customs and Excise (Bea Cukai)
Importer licence
API, in a general trading or a producer variant, constraining what can be imported
Restricted goods
The LARTAS list, requiring permits from the responsible ministry
Product standards
SNI mandatory certification for covered products
Import VAT
Currently 11 percent for most goods, with a higher rate applied selectively
Main entry points
Tanjung Priok and Tanjung Perak by sea, Jakarta by air

Every commercial importer needs an API, the importer identification number, and it comes in two forms: one for companies importing goods for trading and one for companies importing inputs for their own production. Which one a company holds constrains what it is allowed to import, and getting that wrong is a structural problem rather than a paperwork one.

LARTAS is the list of goods subject to restriction, prohibition or specific licensing. It is extensive and it changes, covering categories from textiles and electronics to steel and food. A product on the list needs the corresponding permit before it arrives, issued by the responsible ministry.

On top of that, SNI is the mandatory Indonesian national standard regime. Where a product is covered, certification is required and the SNI mark must be applied. It involves testing and factory assessment, so it belongs at the beginning of a project.

Where cargo lands

Main freight and distribution centres

Jakarta

The dominant market and the main port and airport, with most national distribution concentrated here.

Surabaya

The second city and the eastern Java industrial centre, with its own major port.

Bandung and Semarang

Java manufacturing centres, particularly textiles and consumer goods.

Medan

The Sumatra gateway, with Belawan port serving the north of the island.

Batam

A free trade zone island next to Singapore, used for manufacturing and regional distribution.

Sea freight

Ports of entry and what they mean for your cargo

Tanjung Priok, Jakarta

The largest Indonesian port, handling the majority of container traffic, with the New Priok terminal adding deepwater capacity.

Tanjung Perak, Surabaya

The main eastern Java gateway, serving Surabaya and the eastern part of the country.

Belawan, Medan

The northern Sumatra gateway.

Batam

Free trade zone port, with its own customs treatment and close links to Singapore.

Indonesia is an archipelago, so the port choice is not a routing preference, it determines which island and region the cargo can practically reach.

Tanjung Priok congestion has been a recurring issue, and dwell times there have historically been longer than at comparable regional ports. Preparing clearance in advance is the practical mitigation.

Batam free trade zone status makes it useful for holding stock close to Singapore without a full Indonesian import, particularly for companies testing the market.

Air freight

Airports and when air is the right answer

Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta (CGK)

The main air cargo gateway with full customs facilities and the widest connectivity.

Surabaya (SUB)

Eastern Java gateway serving the second market directly.

Medan (KNO) and Denpasar (DPS)

Regional gateways for Sumatra and Bali.

Air freight from China into Jakarta is frequent, but the licensing and permit requirements apply identically to air shipments, so speed of transport does not shorten the regulatory path.

For cargo destined outside Java, flying into the regional airport rather than Jakarta avoids a domestic leg that can be slow and expensive.

Indicative transit times

How long the movement usually takes

  • Sea FCL, South China to Tanjung PriokAround 6 to 12 days port to portFrequent services. Add clearance time, which is the more variable element.
  • Sea LCL, South China to IndonesiaAround 14 to 24 days door to doorConsolidation and deconsolidation add time at both ends.
  • Air freight, Hong Kong or South China to JakartaAround 3 to 6 days door to doorFrequent services including handling and clearance.
  • Permit and certification lead timeArrange before shippingLARTAS permits and SNI certification both take time and cannot be obtained retroactively.

These ranges are indicative and exist to help you plan. Real transit time depends on the service, the season, the routing and the clearance itself, and we confirm it per shipment rather than publish it as a promise.

Customs

How clearance into Indonesia actually works

The competent authority is Directorate General of Customs and Excise (Bea Cukai).

The API importer identification number is required, and its type constrains what the company may import. A producer variant allows import of inputs for the company own manufacturing, while a general variant covers goods for trading. Importing outside the scope of the licence held is a compliance problem, not a technicality.

The LARTAS list identifies goods subject to restriction or prohibition, requiring a permit from the responsible ministry before import. The list is extensive and changes, so it must be checked against the specific classification each time rather than from memory.

SNI mandatory standards apply to a range of products and require certification with testing and, in many cases, factory assessment before the goods can be imported.

VAT applies at the standard rate, currently 11 percent for most goods with a higher rate applied to certain categories. Indonesia has adjusted this, so it is worth confirming at the time of shipment.

A foreign company cannot import directly without an Indonesian entity holding the appropriate licence, so a local importer or a properly structured local presence is required.

Documentation

What you need to have ready

Commercial invoice

Value, terms and a precise description consistent with the transport document.

Packing list

Piece counts, weights and dimensions per package.

Bill of Lading or Air Waybill

The transport contract and the release instrument.

API importer identification number

Held by the importer, and of the correct type for the goods.

Import permit for LARTAS goods

From the responsible ministry, obtained before arrival.

SNI certification

For products covered by a mandatory Indonesian standard.

Form E certificate of origin

For ASEAN China FTA duty relief on Chinese origin goods.

Indonesian labelling

Bahasa Indonesia labelling is required for consumer goods.

Controlled and restricted goods

What gets stopped, and why

  • The LARTAS list covers a wide range of goods, and the requirements change. Checking the current position by classification before shipping is essential rather than advisable.
  • SNI mandatory certification applies to many products and cannot be arranged after the goods arrive.
  • Textiles, footwear, electronics and steel have all been subject to additional import controls at various points, reflecting protection of domestic industry.
  • Food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics require BPOM registration, which is a lengthy process entirely separate from customs.
  • Bahasa Indonesia labelling is required for consumer goods.
  • Wood packaging must comply with ISPM 15.

Working with Velonex

What clients usually bring us in for on this lane

  • Checking the LARTAS position and the API licence scope before committing to a shipment, since both can make an otherwise straightforward import impossible.
  • SNI certification for regulated products, started early enough that it does not become the critical path.
  • Companies using Batam free trade zone to hold stock close to the market without a full Indonesian import.
  • Serving an archipelago properly, where the port choice determines which region can realistically be reached.
  • Foreign companies with no Indonesian entity, who need a local importer holding the correct licence type for the goods involved.

Get a quote

Tell us what needs to move to Indonesia

We listen before we quote. Share the cargo, the deadline and the constraint, and we will come back with a route that accounts for all three, the documents it will need and a timeline we can stand behind.

Your details

Includes your name, company name and email address

Shipment route

Includes your pickup location and destination

Cargo type

Includes the type of cargo you are shipping

Special requirements

Includes a short note about your challenge

Timeline

Includes your desired timeline

Your quote

A tailored response based on everything above

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Corporate logistics partner

Trust, clarity and operational follow through for complex cargo.

Not ready for a quote? Email info@velonex-hk.com or message us on WhatsApp with the question and we will answer it.

Sources

Where this information comes from

General guidance, last reviewed August 2026. Customs rules and product requirements change, and the treatment of any specific shipment depends on its classification, origin and value. Confirm the detail with us or with the authority before you commit to a movement.

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