Indonesia is a vital partner in the Indo–Pacific region; therefore, Indonesia–United States relations are more significant. Indonesia is in the US’ top 30 largest goods trading partners, with $41 billion in total goods trade in 2022. The United States was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Indonesia in 1949, following its independence from the Netherlands. The US and Indonesia initiated a Comprehensive Partnership in 2010. Based on its success, in 2015, the two countries upgraded the relationship to the US–Indonesia Strategic Partnership, extending cooperation to regional and global significance issues. How is it with shipping from Indonesia to the US?
Shipping from Indonesia to the US
Sea freight from Indonesia to the US
The USA and Indonesia have access to the oceans, making sea freight the most popular and cheapest mode of transportation, especially when shipping large quantities of goods for long distances. The downside is that ocean freight is the slowest one. Usually, shipping from Indonesia to the US takes 35-60 days.
You must choose between FCL and LCL transport when shipping by sea. FCL (full container load) means your goods fill an entire container. LCL (less than container load) means your cargo does not fill an entire container and will be shipped along with other shippers’ goods. When you opt for an LCL shipment, your goods will be packed at the origin port and unpacked at the destination port. That is why LCL shipping takes a few days longer than FCL.
Main cargo ports in Indonesia:
- Port of Tanjung Priok is the busiest and most advanced Indonesian seaport, handling more than 50% of Indonesian trans-shipment cargo traffic. It has three container terminals and twenty other terminals offering specialized services.
- Port of Tanjung Perak is the second busiest seaport in Indonesia, located at Surabaya, East Java. The port has six main terminals: multi-purpose terminals for conventional cargo, a passenger terminal, a Ro-Ro, and an international container terminal.
- Patimban Deep Sea Port is expected to be Indonesia’s primary export port and solve both the overcapacity of Tanjung Priok Port and cargo congestion in Jakarta.
Main cargo ports in the USA:
- Port of Los Angeles is also promoted as “America’s Port.” The port has 25 cargo terminals, 82 container cranes, and eight container terminals. The cargo coming into the port represents approximately 20% of all cargo coming into the United States.
- Port of Long Beach, acting as a major gateway for the US–Asian trade, generates approximately $100 billion per year in trade and employs more than 316,000 people in Southern California.
- Port of New York and New Jersey, considered one of the largest natural harbors in the world, has become the second busiest by tonnage in the United States as of 2019 and the busiest on the East Coast.
Air freight from Indonesia to the US
Air freight is much faster than the ocean freight. Unfortunately, it is also much more expensive, and there are strict weight limits. Because air freight is faster and safer, it is usually used to ship valuable, fragile, and perishable goods. Shipping time from Indonesia to the US varies, up to two weeks.
Main airports in Indonesia:
- Soekarno–Hatta International Airport (CGK) is the primary airport serving the Jakarta metropolitan area on the island of Java in Indonesia. In 2018, the airport served 66.9 million passengers and was ranked the 18th busiest airport in the world by Airports Council International. However, the airport often struggles to accommodate all flights at its current limit of 81 aircraft movements per hour.
- Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) is the main airport in Bali. The airport can accommodate aircraft, including the Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380.
- Juanda International Airport (SUB) is an international airport located in Sedati, Sidoarjo. Juanda International Airport will become one of the main airports in Indonesia for ASEAN Open skies.
Main airports in the USA:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is the main international airport serving New York City. The airport is the busiest of the six airports in the New York airport system, the 13th-busiest airport in the United States, and the busiest international air passenger gateway into North America.
- Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the primary international airport serving Atlanta in Georgia. Hartsfield-Jackson has been the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic since 1998, briefly losing its title in 2020.
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the primary international airport serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and the North Texas Region in Texas state. In April 2022, DFW Airport was ranked as the second-busiest airport in the world, with 62.5 million passengers in 2021.
How much does it cost to ship from Indonesia to the USA?
Shipping costs depend on the cargo’s type, method of transport, route, distance, and the chosen freight forwarder. Freight forwarders will provide you with different quotes. ShipHub.co is a website that helps you to compare various offers from reliable forwarders. It allows you to receive a quote for your shipment and choose the most suitable forwarder. Just fill in the form like shown below and pick the best quote named!
