How to Import Green Coffee from Indonesia: A Step-by-Step FOB Guide
Importing green coffee from Indonesia is straightforward once you know the sequence. This guide walks a roaster or importer through it, from defining the coffee to receiving the shipment, using FOB terms — the most common basis for buying from an Indonesian exporter.
Step 1 — Define what you need
Before you contact anyone, write down the grade (Indonesia uses the SNI scale, from Grade 1 to Grade 6), the process, the volume, the shipment window, the packaging and the intended use. A premium espresso blend and an industrial blend call for very different grades — see our SNI grading guide.
Step 2 — Find and verify suppliers
Ask for the legal entity behind the brand, a company profile, the export documents the supplier issues, and — importantly — which processor produced the lot. A supplier who cannot name the processor, or will not document a lot, is a risk. Be equally wary of suppliers who promise everything: a clear “we can supply this, not that” is a good sign.
Step 3 — Request and cup samples
Paid samples are normal and filter out casual enquiries. Ask for a lot data sheet with the sample (moisture, defect count, screen size) and cup it against your target. Before you commit to a full shipment, agree that a pre-shipment sample from the actual lot must match the approved sample.
Step 4 — Agree the offer in writing
A proper offer states the FOB price (usually in USD), grade, quantity, packaging, shipment window and payment terms. Our standard for first-time buyers is a 50% deposit on confirmation and 50% before shipment, by bank transfer.
Step 5 — Understand FOB (Incoterms® 2020)
Under FOB — Free On Board — the seller delivers the coffee on board the vessel at the named port, and risk passes to the buyer once it is loaded. For Indonesian coffee the named port is typically Semarang or Surabaya.
| Seller (exporter) | Buyer (importer) |
|---|---|
| Production, grading and packing | Booking the vessel or container and paying ocean freight |
| Export documents and export clearance | Cargo insurance |
| Delivery and loading at the named port | Import clearance, duties and taxes at destination |
| Notifying the buyer of readiness and loading | Transport from the destination port to your roastery |
Step 6 — Arrange freight
Appoint a freight forwarder, share the cargo readiness date with them and agree the cut-off for the port. Transit time depends on destination, shipping line and routing, so get current schedules from your forwarder rather than from a rule of thumb.
Step 7 — Check the documents
| Document | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Phytosanitary Certificate | Confirms the shipment meets plant-health requirements; issued by the Indonesian quarantine authority |
| Certificate of Origin | States the country of origin of the goods |
| Commercial invoice | The value and terms of the sale, used for customs |
| Packing list | Lists the bags, weights and marks in the shipment |
| Bill of Lading | Issued by the carrier once loaded; evidence of shipment and, usually, of title |
| Lot data sheet | Moisture, defect count and screen size for the lot |
Step 8 — Import clearance
Check your own country’s requirements for plant-health documents, duties and labelling. If you import into the European Union, the EUDR adds due diligence duties from 30 December 2026 for large and medium operators — read EUDR & Indonesian Coffee and ask your supplier early what data it can provide.
Step 9 — Receive and inspect
On arrival, check bag count and weights, take a sample and compare it with the approved pre-shipment sample. Any claim should be made in writing, with photographs and weight documentation, within the period set in the terms — ours is 14 days from receipt.