MOQ, Lead Time, and Payment Terms When Importing Furniture from Indonesia

Three numbers decide whether an import from Indonesia fits your business: how much you must order, how long it takes, and when you pay. Here are ours, followed by how to plan around each one.

• Minimum order: one 20-foot container, with mixed products allowed
• Lead time: 30 to 60 days
• Payment: 30% deposit, and the balance before shipment
• Loading port: Semarang, Central Java

The minimum order: one container, not one model

Some suppliers set a minimum quantity for each model. Ours is set for the whole container. You can combine different products, sizes and materials in one 20-foot container, as long as the order fills it. For a buyer this means you can test several designs in a single shipment instead of committing the whole container to one chair.

To plan a container mix:

1. List every item you want and the quantity of each.
2. Ask us for the packed dimensions of each item once the sizes are confirmed.
3. Give those dimensions to your freight forwarder, who can check how the load fits.
4. Adjust quantities until the container is full, and balance the mix between fast sellers and items you want to test.

Lead time: 30 to 60 days, and what moves it

Production takes 30 to 60 days. Where your order falls in that range depends on the complexity of the design, the finishes, and the size of the order. A simple catalog piece in a standard finish sits toward the shorter end. A custom design with several finishes sits toward the longer end.

The clock starts when we have received your deposit and all details are confirmed. Time spent deciding on drawings, sizes or finish colours comes before that, so it adds to your total. The faster you confirm details, the sooner production begins.

To plan backwards from the date you need the goods:

1. Start from the date you want the goods in your warehouse.
2. Subtract the sea freight and customs time your forwarder quotes for your port.
3. Subtract the full 60 days of production, not the 30.
4. Subtract the time you need to confirm details and pay the deposit.

The result is the date by which your order should be confirmed. If it is already close, talk to us before you promise a delivery date to your own customer.

Payment: 30% to start, the balance before shipment

You pay 30% of the order value as a deposit when the details are confirmed. Production starts after the deposit is received. You pay the remaining 70% before the container ships from Semarang.

For your cash flow, that means your money goes out in two steps:

• At confirmation: the deposit, which starts production.
• Before shipment: the balance, after production is complete.

Because the balance is due before the goods leave, agree how you will see the finished order before you pay it. Photos or video of each item and of the loaded container, or an inspection by a third party you appoint, are the usual options. Settle this when you accept the quotation.

One safety habit applies to every international payment. When you receive payment instructions, confirm the bank details by phone or WhatsApp with a person you already know at the company before you transfer money. Fraudulent emails that copy a supplier’s payment details are common in international trade.

What your quotation should show

Before you pay the deposit, check that the written quotation lists:

• Each item, with name or code
• Dimensions, material and finish for each item
• Quantity for each item and the total order value
• The 30% deposit amount and the balance
• The estimated production time
• The loading port

If anything is missing, ask for it to be added. A complete quotation protects both sides.

A simple timeline

1. Week 0: you confirm items, sizes, materials and finishes, and pay the 30% deposit.
2. Weeks 1 to 9: production in Jepara. Thirty to sixty days is about four to nine weeks.
3. End of production: you review photos or video, and pay the balance.
4. Shipment: the container leaves from Semarang.
5. Your side: sea freight, customs clearance and delivery.

Common questions

Can I order less than a container?

Our minimum order is one 20-foot container. If your plan is smaller, send it to us and we will reply.

Do I have to order one model in full container quantity?

No. Different products can be mixed in one container.

When does the 60 days start?

After we receive the deposit and all order details are confirmed.

When do I pay the balance?

Before the container ships.

Plan your first container

Send us your item list, or photos and drawings, through the quote form, or message us on WhatsApp. We reply with sizes and a quotation. For the full order process, see export and logistics, and for the first steps of an order read our buyer’s guide to sourcing custom furniture from Indonesia. You can also browse the sample catalog.