Skip to content
First Base FreightFreight forwarding
Container cranes loading a cargo vessel at a port during sunset

Asia

Container Shipping from the UK to Indonesia

Tanjung Priok in Jakarta is the primary gateway, with Surabaya covering East Java and the eastern islands.

Container shipping from the UK to Indonesia runs full container load to Tanjung Priok (IDJKT) and Surabaya (IDSUB). There is no scheduled less than container load service to Indonesia at present. Sea transit is 28–37 days port to port and air freight 2–4 days. We collect from any UK address and handle UK export clearance; customs charges in Indonesia are not included.

Where we ship

Ports in Indonesia

Full container load and groupage both go to Tanjung Priok and Surabaya. Select a port for its location, code and indicative transit.

FCLFull container load
  1. UK door
  2. UK port
  3. Tanjung Priok or Surabaya

Packed and sealed at your premises, then straight to the port — usually Felixstowe.

Less than container load

There is no scheduled groupage service to Indonesia at present. Smaller consignments are quoted case by case — tell us the volume and we will say which option is genuinely cheaper.

Get a price for Indonesia

The three modes are quoted separately — they are priced on different things entirely: a container, a cubic metre and a kilo.

Indicative pricing

Starting points for sea freight from the UK, not port-specific figures — the rate for your shipment depends on the arrival port, the sailing and the commodity. Customs charges, duty and taxes in Indonesia are payable there and are not included.

ServiceFromUnit
FCL — 20ft General Purpose£1,750.00per 20ft container
FCL — 40ft General Purpose£2,820.00per 40ft container
LCL groupage£94.00per cubic metre
Air freightPlease check with our teamper 100kg chargeable weight

These are starting prices for the freight, not shipment totals. A groupage rate is what one cubic metre of cargo costs, so a 10 cubic metre consignment costs roughly ten times the figure shown. Figures are indicative, in GBP, and cover the sea freight from the UK only — customs charges, duty and taxes in the destination country are payable there and are not included. Your firm quote depends on the exact route, the cargo and the sailing.

What can you ship to Indonesia?

Industrial machinery and spares, mining and energy equipment, packaged chemicals, medical devices, and manufacturing components move through Tanjung Priok as routine cargo.

Cargo needs to be palletised, shrink-wrapped and labelled with the consignee, because groupage is handled several times between your loading bay and the delivery address. Anything containing lithium batteries, aerosols, paints, solvents or compressed gas needs declaring at booking — it usually still travels, it just changes the packing and the paperwork rather than simply the price.

What tax and duty applies on import into Indonesia?

Indonesia charges PPN at a standard rate of 12%, charged on the customs value plus duty. Customs duty is separate and runs at 0–15% on most manufactured goods, set by the commodity code of the specific goods.

Indonesia also collects an income tax prepayment (PPh 22) at the border on top of duty and VAT, typically 2.5% for importers holding an API licence and considerably more for those without one — so the licence is worth having before the first shipment rather than after. SNI certification is mandatory for a long and growing list of products.

What are the import restrictions in Indonesia?

Four things are worth checking before you book rather than after the vessel sails.

The consignee needs an API importer identification number; without one the PPh 22 prepayment rate rises sharply.
SNI certification is mandatory for a wide and expanding list of product categories.
Many finished consumer goods require a specific import licence from the Ministry of Trade.
Used capital goods need prior approval and are restricted by age.

What documents do I need to import into Indonesia?

These cover the far end of the journey and belong to your consignee. We prepare and file the transport and commercial paperwork, but their own registrations are issued to them by their own authorities and cannot be obtained on their behalf.

Commercial invoice with the HS code and value
Packing list
House bill of lading
Certificate of origin
Consignee's API number and tax identification number
SNI certificate or import licence where required

What documents do you need in the UK to export?

A second, separate set of paperwork — and this one is yours rather than your consignee's. It is the part first-time exporters are most often caught by, because the destination requirements get all the attention and the British side looks like a formality until it stops a booking.

A GB EORI number — free from HMRC, usually issued within a few working days, and no export declaration can be filed without one.
The export declaration itself, which we file with HMRC against your EORI before the vessel sails.
A commercial invoice showing the commodity code, value, currency, Incoterm and both parties in full.
A packing list with piece count, dimensions and gross weight — per pallet where the cargo travels as groupage.
An export licence where the goods are controlled. Dual-use items with both civilian and military application need one even when the destination is routine.
Proof of export, which is what lets you zero-rate the sale for VAT. Keep it — HMRC can ask for it years later, and without it the VAT becomes yours to pay.

Duty depends on the commodity code of the specific goods, and rates change. This is general guidance, not tax or legal advice. Customs charges, duty and taxes in the destination country are payable there and are not included in our freight quote. Rates last reviewed .

UK to Indonesia shipping: FAQs

How long does shipping from the UK to Indonesia take?

Sea freight runs about 28–37 days port to port, and air freight 2–4 days airport to airport. Tanjung Priok is the quickest sea gateway on this lane at around 28 days. These are indicative figures measured port to port; the transit for your exact collection address and delivery address, including the inland legs at both ends, is confirmed at quote stage.

Which ports do you ship to in Indonesia?

We move cargo through 2 ports in Indonesia: Tanjung Priok (IDJKT), Surabaya (IDSUB). Full container load goes to Tanjung Priok and Surabaya. We have no scheduled groupage service to Indonesia at present, so part loads are quoted case by case. Each port page lists its location, code and indicative transit.

Do you handle customs clearance for Indonesia?

We handle the UK side: we file your export declaration with HMRC against your GB EORI number and raise the transport and commercial documents that travel with the shipment. Customs charges in Indonesia — duty, import tax and any local clearance fees — are payable there by the consignee and are not included in our rates, unless you have agreed a DDP Incoterm that puts them on you. Budget for them separately; they are the most common reason a landed cost comes in above the freight quote.

What should I know before shipping on the Indonesia lane?

If the final destination is outside Java, budget for a domestic transshipment leg and ask for the through transit time. The international sailing is often the shorter half of the journey in that case. Cargo commonly moving on this lane includes industrial and mining equipment, machinery and spare parts, chemicals and raw materials.

A large cargo ship loaded with containers sailing under a vibrant sunset sky

Shipping to Indonesia? Get a quote.

Any country to any country, import or export — send us the origin, destination and cargo details and we'll come back with a competitive rate within one business day.

Indicative from £1,750.00 per 20ft container on Indonesia lanes. Cities and cargo details next.

Or open the full quote form
Chat on WhatsApp