shipping from china to indonesia

How to get started for shipping from China to Indonesia:

Handling international shipments is a complicated process. It involves coordinating not only the actual shipments but getting the items through Chinese and Indonesian customs while making sure your company follows all regulations and doesn’t violate any restrictions. This takes background knowledge, experience, and the ability to stay informed about changes in the industry. That’s why choosing the right freight forwarder for your company is essential. Before you’re ready to export goods from China to Indonesia, it’s important to factor in the following:

Both countries’ customs regulations
Each country’s Import and export policies and restrictions
Shipping documents
Suitable modes of transportation for the goods being shipped
The appropriate shipping routes used by the chosen mode of transportation

Finding a China-based carrier with good rates and that can effectively handle your shipping project will ensure your needs are met, both with regards to maximizing your company’s profit and maintaining the integrity of your inventory. Even though you won’t be handling this process yourself, it’s important to know a little about how the process works so you can work through logistics and potential pitfalls with your forwarder.

8 Steps for Importing from China

Step 1: Check trade laws in China and Indonesia

Make sure you’re aware of current regulations and restrictions when exporting from China and importing to Indonesia. Both countries have different policies which can change often, so it’s important to stay informed. This is also the time in the process to find out what documents you’ll need to have ready for your goods to pass smoothly through customs.

Step 2: Decide what to import

You probably already have an idea of what merchandise your company is well-equipped to offer. From a business standpoint, it’s vital to make sure there will be a demand for your products in Indonesia. Check what items currently sell well there. Research levels of demand for products so you know how much you should import and roughly how much it will cost you to produce, market, and deliver those goods to your customers. This is a business venture, after all – you want to make sure at the end of the day, you’re still able to turn a profit after factoring in expenses.

Step 3: Choose a shipping method

Before shipping your products you have to choose a shipping method. Shipping method depends on your types of merchandise. If you don’t know which shipping method is perfect for you then we will give you a good suggestions. Shipping methods vary depending on the weight and quantity of the products and it also depends on your basic requirements for the shipping time and your shipping budgets.

Step 4: Find a supplier

After you’ve decided what you want to offer your customers, an internet search can put you in touch with Chinese suppliers looking to sell just that. By developing a mutually-beneficial relationship with your suppliers, you can provide quality goods for your customers while creating beneficial business for yourself and your supplier.

Where can I find China Suppliers?

As we know, a good supplier is equal to a good client, so it is very important to find the right China supplier before we do business. Here are some methods for your search for the right suppliers from China as your business partners.

A famous business-to-business website from China is a good place for you to choose suppliers.
Famous business to clients’ website from China is the second place for you to choose China suppliers.

Visiting different kinds of Chinese business fairs is a good method for getting in contact with suppliers directly.

Your freight forwarder can help recommend good suppliers for you, as they are Chinese. As a high-quality freight forwarder, they should have many different cooperating suppliers already. For example, if you choose XCJD as your freight forwarder, we can help you as much as we can to get high-quality china manufactures.

A Chinese sourcing company can help you to buy any goods directly from the suppliers if you don’t want to look for suppliers yourself. There are so many Chinese sourcing companies that do this job very well. It may be a better choice than buying directly from China. Click here to check the top 50 China Sourcing companies.
You can search for suppliers directly on Google. You’ll find a wide variety of reliable Chinese suppliers for you to choose from.

Step 5: Estimate your tax liability for importing goods from China to Indonesia

Indonesian customs will apply a 10% value-added tax on their import. Other taxes and fees may apply depending on the type of items you’re shipping. It’s vital to stay well-informed about Chinese and Indonesian trade regulations so you know ahead of time what fees and taxes you should expect to pay. This will prevent unhappy and expensive surprises down the road. It will also help prevent you from running into unforeseen problems at Indonesian customs.

If you want to import from China but are unable to pay taxes, XCJD Logistics can help you solve this problem. Our door-to-door shipping services include customs clearance and taxes in our price quotes. And no matter what shipping method you choose, we can help you navigate tax information.

Step 6: Define your shipment’s Incoterms

If you’ve never shipped anything internationally before, you might not be familiar with the term “Incoterm.” Incoterms are internationally-recognized rules and terms that distribute responsibilities and liabilities between buyers and sellers when importing and exporting goods. They address who’s responsible for making payments on and monitoring shipments, obtaining insurance, preparing shipping and customs documents, and other shipping-related tasks. They’re industry-standard, so they’re important to be familiar with. Make sure you familiarize yourself with these and define your shipping’s Incoterms before moving forward.

Step 7: Customs clearance from China to Indonesia

Basically, one of the most necessary processes in customs that is done by the owner of the products or its legal representative is called clearance of goods. The terms customs, which is used for importing and exporting a goods during a customs. Stages of customs clearance are expressed in the below:

Entering information for the system
Printing and declaration
Assessing the goods
Obtaining the necessary permits
Paying the cost
Going to the warehousing
Exit of goods

Step 8: Hire a freight forwarder

As you can see, shipping items across the world is a complicated process that can get messy if you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s why it’s so important to hire a reliable and experienced freight forwarder. A good freight forwarder will handle the transportation of your inventory from the time it leaves your factory until it arrives at its final destination. This is the service XCJD Global Logistics has years of experience handling. Don’t hesitate; reach out today so we can get to work helping with your shipment.

What items are mostly imported to Indonesia?

Indonesia already imports a variety of goods from around the world. Reviewing the current top imports is a great starting place when determining what your company can offer.

Machinery including computers
Electrical machinery, equipment
Mineral fuels including oil
Plastics, plastic articles
Iron, steel
Vehicles
Organic chemicals
Articles of iron or steel
Optical, technical, medical apparatus
Other chemical goods

Knowing what already has an existing market and demand in Indonesia can give you a good idea of what you might be suited to provide for your prospective customers.

If you’re unsure where to start, check Alibaba.com. Alibaba is a Chinese business-to-business website that helps companies find merchandise to sell in other countries. Here’s just a handful of the types of items you can find on Alibaba.com to import to Indonesia:

Men’s clothing
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
Cell phone cases
Professional gaming headsets
Baby food
Pre-packaged snack foods
Leather
Jewelery
Scarves and shawls
Wristwatches
Bus parts and accessories
Luggage and travel bags
Self-defense supplies
CCTV cameras
Water treatment supplies and appliances
Cables for electronics
Batteries
Musical instruments
Souvenirs
Fireproofing materials

Now is also the time to determine whether any items you’re considering importing are prohibited or restricted by the Indonesian government. If they are, delve into the current regulations that apply to those specific items. The last thing you want is to realize your cargo isn’t allowed into the country and you have to figure out what to do with a container-load of inventory.

Examples of prohibited and restricted items for import into Indonesia:

Alcoholic beverages
Animal products
Animal skins
Any materials printed or otherwise that are anti-Muslim in nature or that promote communism
Books and printed materials that can disturb public order, includes unapproved books in Chinese and Indonesian language — packaging and product labels
Checks in all forms (blank stock, travellers cheques, payroll, cashier)
Coffee and Coffee Samples
Communications equipment
Compact discs
Computer software
Cotton seeds
Dangerous Goods as defined by IATA (Intl. Air Transport Association)
Drugs, Prescription and Non-Prescription
Explosive materials; firearms and ammunition; certain knives
Fireworks of all types
Foodstuffs
Grain samples
Knives (limited to cutlery only)
Liquid – any commodity in liquid form (exclude destination: JKTA, CGKA, CXPA, HLPA and BTHA)
Liquor and Alcohol
Medical/dental supplies & equipment
Metals, Precious
Mineral Products
Psychotropic Substances
Ozone depleting substances
Color copiers
Narcotics
Parts, machine & electronic
Personal effects
Personal importation of cell phones, laptops, and tablet computer is prohibited
Plants and Plant Products
Precious Stones
Products displaying Chinese characters
Radar equipment
Radio equipment
Seeds
Ship spares
Tapes, video cassettes
Telecommunications equipment
Textile articles
Tobacco/Tobacco Leaves/Cigarettes

Keep in mind that this list isn’t exhaustive and can change often, so check current regulations every time you decide to ship a new type of item to Indonesia.

Packing Guideline for shipping from China to Indonesia

In today’s world, goods are classified to different types. For example, in terms of nutrition, goods are divided into two categories of food and non-food, and according to a chemist, goods are divided into three categories of mineral, vegetable and artificial goods, or they can be grouped into two general groups of liquid and solid goods.

In Sea freight, because the problem is the movement of large quantities of goods based on weight and volume from one point to another, goods are classified according to the conditions and facilities required for long-term Sea freight. For Sea freight is economic and cost-effective, ships must store large quantities of one or more types of goods in one or more warehouses. Packaging guidelines for shipping from China to Indonesia are as the following:

To ensure that old labels and markings are removed from packing, and they are fixed according to the waybill of the shipment.
The barcodes on the waybill are scanned at numerous points during your shipment’s journey. Please ensure the barcode is flat and not covered by tape, shrink-wrap or strapping
Place the waybill on the top or side of your shipment and please ensure it does not overlap the corners or edges of boxes
Use adequate protective wrapping for fragile or delicate items and ensure they are packed as far away as possible from the corners of boxes
To prevent injury, please pay special attention to the packaging of sharp items. There should not be any possibility of the contents piercing the packaging.

Shipping Methods from China to Indonesia:

We can provide cost estimates and explain the pros and cons of each shipping method in your specific situation. However, it’s best to have some background knowledge of these methods beforehand as well.

The main options are express shipping by courier service, airfreight, and sea freight. In this section, we’ll provide a quick overview of how each method works as well as their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Express Shipping freight From China to Indonesia:

This is the fastest option to ship goods to Indonesia. With Express shipping, your merchandise can reach its destination within 1-3 days. With Express shipping courier services see your packages from door-to-door – that is, from your supplier factory to the items’ end destination.

A variety of well-known carriers offer these services, such as UPS, TNT, FedEx, and EMS. They all have good reputations for reliability, so you can rest easy knowing your items are quickly making their way to their destination. These carriers use a variety of methods (airfreight and sea freight which we’ll go into in greater depth later) to provide a hands-off, worry-free service. They can pick up your inventory at your door (or factory) and see it to a designated address, whether that be the warehouse in Indonesia or directly to your Indonesian customers.

Door-to-door express shipping handles items of all sizes and weights. Light items are generally air-freighted for speed and heavy items are sea-freighted, which involves a longer ship time. But since they come directly to your door, they are the most convenient option.

Upsides to express shipping: A fast, worry-free experience for you
Downsides to express shipping: More expensive than alternatives

Airfreight from China to Indonesia:

The biggest advantage of airfreight is its speed. Items leaving China can arrive in Indonesia within 2-3 days. This is optimal for high-value items since they spend less time in transit. However, there are a few trade-offs for that speed.

Airfreight is generally more expensive than sea. It’s also better for small items because airlines have weight and volume restrictions. Airfreight also uses more fuel than alternatives, so if carbon footprint is a concern for you and your company ethic, you’ll want to opt for sea freight.

Keep in mind that airfreight normally only involves delivering goods to an airport in Indonesia, not to the inventory’s ultimate destination. Additional transportation accommodations must be made to get your shipment to its final destination. The exception, of course, is if you’ve arranged for door-to-door transportation. As discussed above, door-to-door delivery allows arrangements to be made to transport the goods from the airport to their end destination, as well as clearance through Indonesia customs.

What goods are usually sent by air from China to Indonesia?

Air freight customers are merchants who often carry goods of low weight and size but high value. Or in any case, it needs to be in the destination in the shortest possible time according to the time conditions. Some of these importers are:

Importers of mobile phones, mobile parts and related accessories.
Importers of laptops, computer parts and related accessories.
Importers of flash memory, external hard drives and power banks.
Importers of medicines and medical supplies that must reach their destination as soon as possible.
Importers of petrochemical equipment and industrial instruments, who often import their goods as a project and must deliver the goods to their destination within a certain period of time.
Importers of perishable goods.
Importers of luxury car parts who import their goods to the destination according to the customer’s order
Importers of electronic components.

Airfreight is split into two categories: general cargo and special cargo. As the name suggests, most items are considered general cargo.

General cargo

In shipping, break general cargo are goods that must be loaded individually, and not in intermodal containers nor in bulk as with oil or grain. Ships that carry this sort of cargo are called general cargo ships. You can ship your common products through general cargo. If you are not importing dangerous goods then you can go through general cargo.

Examples of general cargo:

Electronics
Jewelery
Pharmaceuticals
Personal accessories like watches, purses, etc.

Special cargo

Cargo that requires special handling or protection, such as pyrotechnics, detonators, watches, and precision instruments. Special cargo is subject to different regulations than general cargo, which can involve additional inspections. If you are doing business with fragile or dangerous items, then special cargo is for you.

Examples of special cargo:

Fragile items
Dangerous items, like certain chemicals
Items that need to be temperature-controlled, such as seafood

What is dangerous goods?

Dangerous goods can simply be defined as any material that contains hazardous properties. When discussing cargo shipping, any goods of a sensitive nature that could pose a health risk to handlers and humans can be classified as a dangerous good if not properly controlled. Dangerous goods are also classed based on their nature of hazards such as explosive, flammable, inflammable and poisonous, etc.

What is the difference between dangerous vs. Hazardous?

Hazardous substances of agents are classified based on their health effects on humans, while dangerous goods are classified based on the immediate chemical or physical impact they have on the environment such as explosions, fire, poisoning, corrosion, etc.

What is fragile items?

Fragile items includes anything that can be easily broken, from glassware to antiques and more. These delicate items can be made of any material, including crystal and ceramic, and need extra attention before shipping.XCJD logistics provide a security over your fragile items.

Remember, some airlines have restrictions that prevent them from handling special cargo. When obtaining an estimate, make sure you mention any items that might fit into this category. The type of items you’re shipping can impact what airlines (and which airport destinations) your items can travel through. This, in turn, can affect the price you end up paying.

Top International Freight Airlines from China to Indonesia:

Federal Express
UPS

Qatar airways cargo

China Airlines
Asiana Airlines
All Nippon Airways

Top Chinese airports for exports to Indonesia:

Beijing Capital International Airport
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Xi’an Xianyang International Airport
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport
Kunming Changshui International Airport
Shenzhen Baoan International Airport
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport

Indonesian international airports for imports:

Soekarno Hatta International Airport

Juanda International Airport

Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport

Husein Sastranegara International Airport

Ahmad Yani Airport

Kualanamu International Airport

Sultan Hasanuddin Airport

Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman International Airport

Kalimarau International Airport

Kertajati International Airport

Upsides to airfreight: Fast

Downsides to airfreight: Expensive, high carbon footprint, constraints on what type of items can be shipped via air

Sea Freight shipping service from China to Indonesia:

Sea freight is the most common method of shipping items from China to Indonesia, mainly because of its versatility and reliability. While airfreight have constraints on what items they can carry, practically everything can be shipped by sea, including very large and heavy items (like cars). The main downside to sea freight is its timeline. While other shipping methods deliver cargo in a matter of days, sea freight takes weeks. Items usually take between 5-10 days to reach their destination, depending on the type of freight and the specific ports of departure and arrival.

Sea freight operates under the same FCL and LCL container system as train railway freight. Consider container sizes when choosing shipment sizes and when obtaining a price estimate, since prices for FCL and LCL are different. We can help to make commercial invoice, customs clearance and buy insurance for your shipment.

Top Chinese seaports for exports to Indonesia:

Shanghai
Shenzhen
Ningbo-Zhoushan
Guangzhou
Qingdao
Tianjin

Main Indonesian seaports:

Java

Sumatra

Kalimantan

Sulawesi

Nusa Tenggara

Upsides to sea freight: Inexpensive, lower carbon footprint than airfreight, can handle all items, FCL and LCL system lets you adapt to your business’s needs

Downsides to sea freight: Slow

What goods are usually sent by sea from China to Indonesia?

Sea freight is one of the most preferred way, that many people choose sea freight for shipping from China. One of the most important reason is that the cost of this way is very reasonable compared to other modes of transportation. Some conditions are specific for sea freight that they are as the following:

Goods are super large

Goods are very heavy

Goods are more than 200 kg

Goods are in bad shape

Special shipping service from us

We are providing some special service for shipping your merchandise. Our port-to-port, door-to-port and, door-to-door service helps you to find best way of shipping. If you don’t know about these services then we will help to learn.

Port-to-port

In ocean freight, port-to-port shipping involves the middle leg of the entire shipping process. Under this, the transportation of merchandise in shipping containers from the port of origin to the port of destination. It doesn’t include pre-carriage and on- carriage transportation service. Given the volatile and precarious situation shipping lines are often faced with at sea, there lies a certain unpredictability in this portion of shipping process. This is largely why this trends to be the most expensive part of the shipping process.

Door-to-port

Door-to-port service in an efficient and cost-effective way of shipping goods internationally. This process beings when goods are picked up from your home, then you are responsible for the foreign customs formalities process and for arranging delivery of the goods to your final destination. We will notify you prior to cargo arrival to the port of destination and refer you to one of our customs brokers to help clear customs and process required paperwork.

Door- to-door shipping

Door-to-door shipping is a service where the freight forwarder guarantees that the goods will be picked up from and delivered to the destination decided by the customer. We will pick up the shipping container from your warehouse and bring it to the port gate. No matter which type of delivery you chose, it is important to know what all of your options are before shipping. It is different from door-to-port or port-to-port because it begins and ends at specific address within cities covered by the freight forwarder.

What Is the Difference between Door to Door and Door to Port?

Door to port is collection from origin and delivery to destination port only where you will have to collect yourself; door to door is collection from origin and delivery to your address directly.

Shipping Methods at a Glance:

Shipping Cost from China to Indonesia:

Typically, you will hear that shipping by ocean is cheaper than shipping by air when shipping by road isn’t an option. This is usually true, however, this is not necessarily in all instances. Airlines bill you by what is called a chargeable weight when utilising this as a shipping method. Chargeable weight is calculated from a combination of both the size and the weight of a shipment. As a shipment gets smaller, the increments between the prices is and sometimes air will even end up being cheaper than sea freight.

Express	High
Air Freight	High
Sea Freight	Low

How can be cost calculated?

The rates for shipping air freight or cargo in a container from China to Thailand are dependent on several factors. XCJD freight forwarder will usually take the following aspect into consideration before shipping your merchandise:

Nature of goods
Chosen mode of transfer
Weight of cargo
Dimensions of cargo
Distance between origin and recipient
Types of service

Busy times for Chinese exports are January (Chinese New Year) and the third quarter of the year (July-September). The latter is due to increased demand in anticipation of end-of-the-year holidays.

Keep in mind that quotes for FCL shipping are usually stable for up to 2 weeks, while LCL rates last up to a month. This is why it’s so important to 1) obtain a quote specific to each shipment, and 2) act quickly to place your shipment order after receiving a quote.

Shipping Time from China to Indonesia:

Express	1-2 days
Air Freight	2-3 days
Sea Freight	5-10days

How to find the cheapest way to ship?

Minimizing cost is one of the areas you need to focus on when shipping. Remember, as an importer; you need to maximize your profits while reducing costs. One of the way you can do that it by finding the cheapest way. There are many ways you can cheaply ship your cargo from China to Indonesia. Here are some of the ways you can safely find a cheap way to ship your cargo from China to Indonesia.

Identify the product to import

You need to identify the product that you want to import from China to Indonesia. Going to China with a clear head of what you are importing can help save your shipping cost. You won’t have to choose what to import randomly. Also it will help you to identify the budget you are going to use.

Negotiation with different suppliers

For you to have an edge when it comes to importation, you have to engage the different suppliers available. This will help you find a favourable deal for your importation. Some of the areas that you can negotiate on include price, quantity to supply and even the production time.

Negotiate with several carriers

Ultimately, you will have to ship your cargo from China to Indonesia. As such you need to look for a carrier that will ship your cargo at favourable rates. You can negotiate on the cost of shipping an even number of tips it makes to your destination.

Use your forwarder packaging material

One of the ways you may end up paying a higher price for your shipping is by using your packaging materials. Some of the materials might add weight to your cargo which will increase your shipping cost. Remember that weight is a crucial determinant when it comes to calculating your shipping cost. Minimize this by using the packaging materials provide by your forwarder which are typically the standard ones.

The season of shipping

You will pay higher if you chose to ship during the pack season. During such times, there are a lot of activities taking place with many importers importing which increases the pricing. Not only you will pay higher but you will also have limited space meaning that your cargo may be damage. Minimize this by shipping during low season when there are fewer activities. You will able to ship at a lower price at the same time have a lot of space for your shipment.

How do I know what method is right for me?

This is just a summary to give you an idea of shipment methods. The only way to know what shipping method is the best choice for your specific needs, at the specific time of shipment, is to contact an experienced freight forwarder who can listen to your situation, provide cost estimates, and recommend the option that best fits your needs. At this point, it’s clear that this process is complicated and involves a lot of factors. That’s why it’s so important to get a quote that’s specific to you.

XCJD Global Logistics has over 10 years of experience handling international shipment logistics, which means we have the know-how and ability to make sure each shipment reaches its destination safely and without complications. We have office in ShenZhen, GuangZhou, ShangHai and ZheJiang. No matter where your suppliers located, we can pick up goods within China Mainland within 3hours after getting your pick up authorization.

If you’re looking for a freight forwarder to coordinate your shipments from China to the Indonesia, contact us for a free quote today.

Documents to prepare when shipping from China to Indonesia

Bill of Lading (A sea bill of lading is a document issued by a shipping company or its representative in exchange for receiving goods for shipment. If the bill of lading has been given as a receipt for RECEIVED FOR SHIPMENT, it indicates the goods’ receipt by the relevant shipping company, but it does not show the goods’ definite shipment. The bill of lading is called ON BOARD. And the bill of lading, called “AIR WAYBILL or AIR CONSIGNMENT NOTE” or “AIR FREIGHT NOTE,” is usually issued in 12 copies, 3 of which are commercially important and the rest copies are for the airline interior.)
Invoice (It is a document containing information about the goods or goods sold that the seller issues in the name of the buyer.)
Certificate of Origin (it is a document issued by the Chamber of Commerce of each country for export goods and issued for each export item. This document certifies the place (country) of manufacture of the goods, and it is part of the documents that the buyer needs to clear the goods through customs so that it will be sent to the buyer along with other documents in due time)
Packing List (the list of all items to be shipped)
Test or Inspection Certificate (it is issued by international investigation companies)
Insurance ( all items must be insured)

Not all of these are necessary in every case, and document requirements vary based on the shipping method. Staying well-informed about current regulations and consulting with your freight forwarder will help ensure you always have the proper documentation prepared for your shipment.

If you’re not sure what documents you need or feel lost when preparing your documents, contact us. We offer help preparing commercial invoices as well as import and export customs clearances for each shipment.

Why choose XCJD Global Logistics limited as your freight forwarder from China?

We offer the following complimentary services for your convenience:

Free charge to pick up goods from supplier factory.
Free charge for warehousing your cartons if goods not rush to send out to the destination.
Pick-up goods from different suppliers, and send out together to help save shipping cost.
Free charge in repacking cartons from suppliers.
Free charge to help take pictures of goods from suppliers.
Free charge to help checking goods package and appearance before sending out goods.
We can help to make commercial invoice if you don’t have time to make CI.
We can help to do the export customs clearance for each of your shipment.
We can help to do the import customs clearance for each of your shipment.
We can help to buy insurance for your shipment
We can help to make certificate for your shipments
We can be reached 24/7
Shipment: Large enough to handle, small enough to care. Our goal is to tailor shipping solution for different kinds of clients
Whatever you want to move, where ever they need to go, we can meet the challenge.
We also can help you to negotiate price with your supplier if need our help.
We can help to check what on earth your China Supplier if needed.
If you want to buy from china, but don’t know how to do, we can teach you step by step or introduce sourcing company products.
Our price is super reasonable.
We treat this job more important than ourselves.
We have office in ShenZhen, GuangZhou, ShangHai, ZheJiang. No matter where your suppliers located, we can pick up goods within China Mainland within 3hours after getting your pick up authorization.
We can make most suitable shipping offer for each of your shipment depends on our shipping experience and your shipping requirement. Matter how unorthodox the shipment, we’ll do whatever it takes to fit your needs.