Ocean & Air Freight Shipping From Indonesia to the United States

One of the most dynamic trade relationships in the world is that of Indonesia and the United States. As Indonesia has the largest economy in Southeast Asia, it has become an important strategic partner for the U.S. This trade partnership has helped foster economic growth for both nations. 

In 2022, Indonesia exported over $34.5 billion worth of goods to the U.S., a whopping 27.7% increase from the previous year. If you are looking to take advantage of this growing goods and services trade and investment, here’s your complete guide to ocean and air freight shipping from Indonesia to the U.S. 

What Are the Options for Shipping Freight From Indonesia to the United States?

You can choose between ocean and air freight to ship from Indonesia to the United States. 

Ocean Freight From Indonesia to the United States

Ocean freight is the most budget-friendly and flexible way to ship goods from Indonesia to the United States. It can accommodate all types of cargo and even offers two options for container shipping: less-than-container load (LCL) and full-container load (FCL). 

Shippers use LCL to transport small volumes of goods. Their cargo is consolidated with consignments from other sellers and shipped in one container. That way, each shipper only pays for the space their cargo occupies, making it an economical option. 

FCL, on the other hand, is where a shipper rents the space in an entire container for their goods alone. It’s best for larger shipments and gives the shipper more control and security for their cargo. It’s faster than LCL but is more expensive unless the space is maximized. 

Air Freight from Indonesia to the United States

Air freight is another way to ship goods from Indonesia to the United States. This is the fastest mode of international shipping, preferred by shippers for time-sensitive and perishable goods. It’s also suitable for high-value shipments, as stricter airport processes can guarantee cargo security.

The downside of air freight is its cost. It is significantly more expensive than ocean freight. Another is that it limits what you can and cannot ship and your cargo's size, weight, and volume. 

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

The cost of shipping cargo from Indonesia to the United States will depend on several key factors. These are: 

• Your choice of ocean or air shipping
• Your preference for door-to-door, port-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-port shipments
• Your consignment’s weight, volume, and size
• Weight and size limits

Use our online freight costs calculator to get an estimate of your shipping costs. The table below also shows the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from Indonesia to the US:

How long does it take to ship cargo from Indonesia to the United States?

As for transit time, your choice of ocean or air freight shipping will primarily determine how long it will take for your goods to arrive in the United States. 

How long does it take to ship cargo by sea from Indonesia to the United States?

If you ship by sea, your shipment will arrive in the United States within 55 to 60 days.

You can compute more accurate transit times using our transit time calculator to find out how long your shipment will take, depending on the season. 

How long does it take to ship cargo by air from Indonesia to the United States?

Your shipment for air freight can be completed in as fast as 8-20 days, depending on the season.

Customs Clearance in Indonesia and the United States

Goods imported to the United States from Indonesia must go through customs clearance. This should be easy, provided you have prepared and submitted the following requirements: 

• A commercial invoice
• A packing list
• A certificate of origin
• A letter of credit or other payment terms (depending on the contract between the parties involved)
• A bill of lading for ocean freight or an Airway Bill for air freight

Take a look at our full documents list if you need examples of each customs clearance requirement. 

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

Now, which one should you choose: ocean freight or air freight? That depends on your needs, priorities, and cargo requirements.

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is the way to go if you need to ship from Indonesia to the United States on a budget. It’s also ideal for shipping large, heavy goods, as ocean freight can accommodate any type of cargo. It also gives you the option of shipping via LCL or FCL. 

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

You should ship via LCL if your cargo is: 

• Small in size and quantity 
• Lightweight
• Suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers 
• Not delicate, fragile, or high-value 
• Not requiring special handling or movement 
• Not expected in the US at a specified time

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

FCL might be a better route for you if your cargo is: 

• Large in size and quantity 
• Heavy or overweight
• Not suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers 
• Delicate, fragile, or high-value 
• Requiring special handling or movement 
• Expected to arrive in the US at a specified time

Air Freight

If you need your shipment to arrive in the United States fast, air freight is the way to go. It takes considerably less time to ship by air, which makes it perfect for time-sensitive or perishable cargo. It’s also a good idea to choose air freight if you’re shipping high-value goods, with airport security helping guarantee the safety of your cargo during transit. 

What you need to know about air freight, however, is that it can be significantly more expensive than ocean freight. Also, it cannot accommodate all types of goods and limits your shipments' weight, size, and volume. 

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in Indonesia

Port of Dumai

The Port of Dumai is located on the southern side of Rupat Strait in Sumatra. It mainly handles shipments of crude oil, boasting an oil refinery in its vicinity. Despite that, the port can also accommodate general cargo and exports of fertilizers, rice, and logs. 

Port of Cirebon

The Port of Cirebon is located on the northern shores of Java. It is a major facility in Indonesia that handles the export of sugar, pinang, rice, groundnut oil, tapioca, copra, and sisal fiber. The port sees 1,100 vessels per year carrying 1,800,000 tonnes of cargo annually. 

Port of Gresik

The Port of Gresik is located on Java island. It serves as a harbor for cargo ships, boasting an anchorage area that can house boats carrying timber. The port mainly handles the shipment of oil products, petrochemicals, cement, and phosphate rocks. 

Cargo ports of arrival in the United States

Port of Virginia

The Port of Virginia is located along the eastern coast. It can accommodate the largest container vessels in the world. The port is the 6th biggest in the United States and is popular for its efficiency in cargo handling. 

The Northwest Seaport Alliance

The Northwest Seaport Alliance results from the merger of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma. It is an important trade gateway that connects the United States with Asia. The port handles 3.38 million TEUs per year. 

Port of Charleston

The Port of Charleston is popular mainly because of its environmental commitment and efficient operations. It handles 2.79 million TEUs annually and has an economic impact of over $17 billion, making it essential for economic growth and infrastructure development. 

Air Freight from Indonesia to the United States: An airport guide

Airports of origin in Indonesia

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport

The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is located on Java Island, Indonesia, and serves the Jakarta metropolitan area. It is the busiest airport in the country, handling over 127.01 thousand metric tonnes of goods per year. 

Gusit Ngurah Rai International Airport

The Gusit Ngurah Rai International Airport, also known as Denpasar International Airport, is the main international airport serving Bali, Indonesia. It handles 16.66 thousand metric tonnes of goods per year. 

Juanda International Airport 

The Juanda International Airport is located in Sedati, Sidoarjo, in East Java, Indonesia. It is the third busiest airport in the country, handling 6.35 thousand metric tonnes of goods per year. The airport is a hub for  Lion Air, Citilink, Garuda Indonesia, Super Air Jet, Batik Air, and more.

Airports of arrival in the United States

San Bernardino International Airport

The San Bernardino International Airport is a public airport in San Bernardino County, California. With a land area of 1,329 acres, it can accommodate the largest aircraft in the world. 

San Francisco International Airport

The San Francisco International Airport, located in San Mateo County, serves the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It is the largest airport in the area and the second busiest in the state. 

San Antonio International Airport

The San Antonio International Airport is located in San Antonio, Texas, about 8 miles north of downtown. It spans 2,305 acres and boasts three runways. It mainly serves as a hub for Merlin Airways.