The Indonesian market holds immense potential for lighting exports, yet it presents high policy barriers and complex customs clearance procedures. Particularly daunting are SNI certification and import quota requirements, which deter many companies. As the world's fourth most populous nation, Indonesia's accelerating urbanization and ongoing infrastructure development drive sustained growth in lighting demand.
Chinese-made lighting fixtures, renowned for their diverse designs and high cost-effectiveness, have become star products in local Indonesian wholesale markets.
01 Opportunities and Challenges in Indonesia's Lighting Market
Demand in Indonesia's lighting market is experiencing explosive growth, particularly in wrought iron fixtures and crystal chandeliers, where Chinese products dominate. The rise of e-commerce channels has further expanded sales avenues, enabling smaller lighting manufacturers to reach consumers more rapidly.
Full container load (FCL) shipping has become the primary export method for lighting fixtures, reducing unit costs while cutting transportation losses by approximately 30%-50%.
However, Indonesia imposes relatively high policy barriers and complex customs clearance procedures. New regulations from the Indonesian Ministry of Industry, effective July 2025, require OEM manufacturers of home appliances to first obtain an SNI certificate for their own brand before applying for an OEM manufacturer certificate, further extending the certification cycle.
Outdoor lighting fixtures without SNI certification may be destroyed by Indonesian customs.
02 Core Requirements for SNI Certification
SNI certification is Indonesia's mandatory national standard for lighting products. All lighting fixtures exported to Indonesia must pass this certification. The process involves product testing, document review, and Indonesian trademark registration, typically taking 2-3 months and costing thousands of dollars.
The 2025 regulations impose stricter requirements, mandating that contract manufacturers first obtain an SNI certificate for their own brand before applying for an OEM manufacturer certificate. Outdoor landscape lights and smart lighting have additional requirements: outdoor fixtures must pass Indonesian SNI certification, while smart lighting (including Bluetooth/WiFi) requires a Radio Type Approval Certificate.
After certification, companies must also apply for SPB/NPB documentation before shipment and affix the NPB number on product packaging. Failure to do so will result in goods being directly rejected by customs.
03 Advantages and Operations of Full Container Load (FCL) Shipping
FCL shipping offers significant advantages for lighting exports. A 20GP container (28CBM) can hold approximately 14,000 LED bulbs, reducing the average cost to ¥1.60 per unit. A 40HQ container (68CBM) is ideal for bulky fixtures like landscape lights, saving 30% on freight costs.
FCL shipping from China to major Indonesian ports typically takes 2-3 weeks. Jakarta serves as the primary customs clearance port, offering high clearance efficiency.
To ensure transport safety, lighting fixtures require reinforced packaging. Glass/crystal components must be individually wrapped in bubble columns, with outer boxes labeled “Fragile.” Container loading rates must exceed 85% to avoid demurrage charges. Inner packaging must fully wrap items with shock-absorbing materials. Outer packaging should use sturdy cardboard boxes with moisture-proof treatment, clearly marked with fragile labels and orientation indicators.
04 Customs Clearance Process and Quota Management
Indonesia's customs clearance process is complex and requires complete documentation. Exporters must provide commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, insurance policies, and other relevant documents. Since May 2018, Indonesian customs requires all import bills of lading to include the consignee's and consignee-in-notice's tax ID numbers along with the four-digit HS CODE.
Import duties for lighting products typically range from 5% to 10%, combined with Value Added Tax (VAT) and other local taxes, resulting in relatively high overall tax burdens. Undervaluation may trigger inspections; declaring at 100% of the purchase price is recommended.
Indonesia implements import quota management for certain products, requiring special import permits. Consignees lacking the appropriate import rights or with limited qualifications are prone to inspection issues.
Professional logistics companies can provide DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) operations, handling customs clearance through agents with the necessary import authority, as well as managing special import permits and commodity inspection requirements (SGS, SNI).
05 Key Advantages of Choosing Professional Logistics Services
Professional logistics providers offer end-to-end solutions covering domestic preparation, ocean freight, and Indonesian customs clearance. They possess expertise in HS code classification for various lighting fixtures and SNI certification requirements, delivering specialized anti-breakage and moisture-proof packaging recommendations and services.
“Double Clearance with Tax Included” stands as a core strength of professional logistics. Quotations incorporate Indonesian import duties, streamlining the process. Their local Indonesian customs clearance teams offer compliant double clearance with tax included at rates 20% below market prices, ensuring 100% compliant clearance.
Professional logistics firms also provide value-added services such as SNI certification consulting and assistance, specialized packaging, warehousing and consolidation, and insurance services. They offer free storage periods at their Chinese warehouses, enabling consolidation of shipments from multiple suppliers.
