China Imports to Indonesia Rise 18.21%, Forwarder Services Surge
Imports from China to Indonesia have shown a significant rise in early 2026. According to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Indonesia’s import value in January 2026 reached $21.20 billion, a 18.21% year-on-year increase from January 2025.
China remains the top source, with imports valued at $7.89 billion, accounting for 43.75% of Indonesia’s non-oil imports in January 2026. This trend continued into the first quarter, with Indonesia’s total imports from January to March 2026 rising 10.05% to $61.30 billion.
Alongside this trend, demand for China-based freight forwarding services has surged. These services handle import logistics, managing shipments from suppliers’ warehouses in China to the recipient’s address in Indonesia.
Natindo Cargo, a company specialising in China import services, reported a 31.48% increase in demand this year compared to the same period last year.
Top Imported Product Categories
Data shows consumer goods with fast turnover dominate imports from China. The top five categories are shoes, bags, gadget accessories, garments, and fashion accessories. These products are popular due to attractive margins for resellers and stable year-round demand.
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM) and online resellers form the largest user segment for import services. Live shopping trends and rising cross-border wholesale transactions are key drivers of the demand surge.
Shipping Options: Sea, Air, and Express
Businesses primarily consider delivery time when choosing freight forwarders. There are three main shipping routes from China to Indonesia:
Sea Cargo: 21-30 days, cost-effective for large volumes.
Air Cargo: 7-8 days, ideal for time-sensitive shipments.
Express: faster than air cargo for urgent needs.
‘Indonesian businesses’ demand for China import services continues to rise, especially for small to medium volumes. Businesses can now choose shipping routes tailored to their needs, from cost-effective sea cargo to express for fast delivery,’ said Natindo Cargo’s Head of Import Samuel Andrew in a written statement on Friday, 29 May 2026.
Door-to-Door Service Tops Choices
Direct service with an all-inclusive or door-to-door scheme is the most popular option. This covers the entire shipping process from the origin warehouse in China to the recipient’s address in Indonesia under one service package.
The all-inclusive scheme ensures upfront cost certainty with no additional charges during the process. Businesses simply hand over goods at the pickup point, and the forwarder handles all logistics until delivery.
UMKM and Online Shopping Continue to Grow
Indonesia’s UMKM sector and online shopping activity are among the fastest-growing industries in recent years. UMKM operators are increasingly expanding product variety by importing directly from China, while Indonesian consumers are more accustomed to buying imported goods via digital platforms.
Live shopping trends, gift hampers, and home-based resellers are driving demand for imported goods. Many new entrepreneurs start businesses with minimal capital through direct imports from Chinese suppliers.
To meet this demand, China import service providers like Natindo Cargo offer door-to-door services via sea, air, and express routes, focusing on transparent pricing and easy tracking for UMKM and medium-sized businesses.