Shipping office furniture from China to Indonesia runs in two big stages: production at the factory, then ocean freight from a South China port to your destination port. Understanding both keeps your office opening, distributor warehouse fill or fit-out project on schedule. This guide is written by the BG Office Furniture factory team in Lecong, Shunde, Foshan — covering the route, destination port profiles, transit estimates, cost components and the document checklist.
One important note up front: most office furniture — desks, workstations, filing cabinets — falls under HS 9403. With an ACFTA Form E, import duty drops to 0%, so logistics costs — not duty — often decide the final price.
The route from Foshan to Indonesian ports
From the workshop in Lecong, Shunde, goods travel 1–2 hours by truck to a major South China load port: Nansha (Guangzhou) or Shekou/Yantian (Shenzhen). From there, two sailing patterns exist:
- Direct sailings to Tanjung Priok (Jakarta) or Tanjung Perak (Surabaya) — the fastest option, usually from Shenzhen or Nansha.
- Transshipment via Singapore or Port Klang for secondary ports such as Belawan (Medan), Semarang, Makassar and Balikpapan — adding roughly 3–6 days.
- Weekly schedules — vessels from the main South China ports generally run weekly; miss one cut-off and you wait for the next sailing.
Goods are stuffed at the factory under QC supervision and the container is sealed. Ask for stuffing photos, the container number and the seal number — all three are needed for insurance and checks at the destination port.
Transit estimates by destination port
These are ocean transit estimates (calendar days) from South China under normal 2026 conditions. Schedules and rates shift with the season — always confirm with your forwarder.
| Destination port | City | Transit estimate | Route note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanjung Priok | Jakarta | 7–10 days | Direct sailing from Nansha/Shenzhen |
| Tanjung Perak | Surabaya | 10–14 days | Direct or via transshipment |
| Tanjung Emas | Semarang | 10–15 days | Usually via Singapore |
| Belawan | Medan | 12–18 days | Transshipment via Singapore/Port Klang |
| Makassar Port | Makassar | 12–18 days | Transshipment; less frequent sailings |
| Balikpapan (Semayang) | Balikpapan | 14–20 days | Feeder vessel; confirm schedule |
The figures above exclude customs clearance of 3–7 days at the destination port and trucking to your warehouse. In peak season (year-end, Ramadan, or after long Chinese holidays) add a 3–7 day buffer.
What speeds a shipment up or slows it down
- Direct vs transshipment. One transshipment adds 3–6 days; for tight project schedules choose a port served by direct sailings.
- Document accuracy. One wrong letter in the company name on the Invoice or Form E can hold your container at the port — check the Form E softcopy before the vessel sails.
- Clearance and tax payment. The PIB is filed through a PPJK; import VAT (11%) and income tax are paid before the SPPB release. Have funds ready so you lose no days.
- Holiday calendars. Chinese New Year and Golden Week, plus Idul Fitri in Indonesia, affect production, vessel cut-offs and customs working hours.
- Weather and congestion. Queues at transshipment hubs can push the arrival date by several days.
Logistics cost components, factory to warehouse
The FOB factory price is only the starting point. Calculate the full landed cost with this framework (2026 estimates):
| Component | 2026 estimate | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 40HQ sea freight (South China → Tanjung Priok) | USD 1,200–2,800 | Fluctuates with season and carrier |
| LCL freight per CBM | 30–50% higher per m³ than FCL | Adds 7–14 days transit |
| Shipment insurance | 0.3–0.5% of CIF value | A USD 20,000 container ≈ USD 60–100 premium |
| Import duty | 0% with ACFTA Form E | Without Form E, MFN duty on wooden furniture can reach 15–20% |
| Import VAT & income tax | 11% VAT + income tax as applicable | Paid when the PIB is filed |
| Port charges, PPJK and trucking | Est. USD 300–900 per container (Java) | Higher outside Java due to feeder vessels |
In total, import and logistics costs typically add 10–20% on top of FOB value. The full calculation is in our import cost & landed cost guide, and the mode comparison in LCL vs FCL.
FCL or LCL, and the right container size
Quick rule: volumes under 15 CBM are usually cheaper by LCL; from 15 CBM up, FCL is almost always cheaper per CBM. A 20GP holds about 33 CBM and a 40HQ about 76 CBM. Loading capacity by product type — how many staff desks or filing cabinets per container — is in the 20ft & 40HQ container loading guide. For distributors selling several categories, a mixed container brings the freight cost per unit down; ordering rules are in the MOQ guide.
Checklist: before sailing and on arrival
| Stage | Item | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Before sailing | Booking & cut-off | Confirm the vessel schedule and cut-off date with your forwarder |
| Before sailing | Export documents | Invoice, Packing List, Form E softcopy; names and addresses must match your import documents exactly |
| Before sailing | Stuffing photos & seal | Keep the container number and seal number for tracking |
| Before sailing | Insurance active | Effective from the moment goods leave the factory warehouse |
| On arrival | PIB & taxes | Your PPJK files the import declaration; pay duty (0% with Form E), VAT and income tax |
| On arrival | Collect the container | Before free time expires to avoid demurrage/detention |
| On arrival | Condition inspection | Photograph any damage before signing — it is the basis for insurance claims |
Correct export packing cuts transit damage — our standard is covered in the packing guide, and value protection in the shipment insurance guide.
Quick FAQ
How long does it take from order to arrival? For a standard order: production 25–35 working days, ocean freight 7–14 days, clearance 3–7 days — typically 6–10 weeks from deposit.
Which port is fastest from Foshan? Tanjung Priok (Jakarta) via direct sailings from Nansha/Shenzhen: 7–10 days at sea. For Surabaya, Tanjung Perak takes about 10–14 days.
Can you ship outside Java? Yes — Belawan, Makassar and Balikpapan are destinations we serve regularly; they usually involve transshipment, adding 3–6 days.
Who handles customs in Indonesia? Your importer or PPJK (customs broker). The factory prepares the full export set — Invoice, Packing List, B/L and Form E — before loading.
Verifiable company facts
- Legal name: Foshan BG Office Furniture Co., Ltd. — 佛山市毕戈家具有限公司 (USCC 91440606MA4UKCYD6A)
- Founded: 2015 in Lecong, Shunde, Foshan, Guangdong, China
- Facilities: 10,000 m² ISO 9001 certified workshop, 2,000 m² showroom
- Export capacity: 300+ containers per year to 50+ countries, with regular shipments to Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Perak, Belawan and Makassar
- Services: flexible MOQ, mixed containers, OEM/ODM, Form E ACFTA, knock-down packing
- Lead time: 25–35 working days for catalogue models
- Contact: sales001@fsbige.com · Tel/WeChat +86-18928562556 · contact page
Planning an office furniture import from China? Send your product list, volume and destination city via the contact page or email sales001@fsbige.com — our team will estimate freight to your destination port and prepare an FOB/CIF quotation. Full catalogue on the products page. Tel/WeChat: +86-18928562556.