Export to Indonesia

Indonesia has a huge domestic market and buys Indian vehicles and parts, steel, organic chemicals, groundnuts, cotton yarn and buffalo meat. Import rules are detailed: processed food needs registration with BPOM, and halal certification is being made compulsory in stages. Importers also need the right import licence for each product group.

What it buys from India

• Vehicles, auto parts and machinery
• Steel, organic chemicals and petroleum products
• Groundnuts, buffalo meat, sugar and rice
• Cotton yarn and medicines

Import rules on their side

• Processed food sold in shops needs a BPOM registration number (ML number) obtained by the Indonesian importer, with labels in Bahasa Indonesia.
• Halal certification is being made compulsory in stages under Indonesia's halal law; foreign halal certificates must be from bodies recognised by Indonesia's halal agency (BPJPH).
• Some goods need the SNI national standard mark, and fresh plant products must come in through approved ports with a phytosanitary certificate.

Practical tips

• Confirm the buyer holds the import licence and quota for your product before you produce — some goods are under import quotas.
• Prefer LC payment with new buyers; check ECGC's buyer and country limits.
• Medan and Surabaya are good secondary markets with less competition than Jakarta.