Shellac Exporter to Indonesia — Bulk Flake & Import Guide

An industrial, bulk market

Indonesia does not grow lac at India's scale, so it imports refined shellac. The buying pattern is bulk, price-sensitive and logistics-led: 20-foot containers of flake into Jakarta or Surabaya, cut locally in alcohol or solvent by the converter. Food, pharma and cosmetic use exists, but in smaller lots.

Wood finishing, French polish, sealers	Lemon, orange or garnet flake — natural wax is fine. For furniture exporters and domestic joinery.
Printing inks & overprint varnish	Dewaxed bleached or dewaxed orange flake, for packaging print.
Grinding wheels & abrasive bonds	Machine-made flake with a consistent flow, for tooling and metalworking.
Leather dressing & hat stiffening	Orange flake or button lac, for the leather clusters of Java.
Electrical insulating varnish	Dewaxed, low-impurity grades to specification.
Foundry, sealing wax, patterns	Garnet flake or seedlac — price first, colour second.
Food, pharma, cosmetics	Dewaxed bleached grades, smaller lots — the BPOM path applies.

Furniture makers in centres such as Jepara, Cirebon and Pasuruan often buy through Jakarta distributors rather than importing themselves, so distributors are the key accounts.

How ASEAN trade rules apply to Indian shellac

• AIFTA with Form AI. India is not an ASEAN member. Indian shellac entering Indonesia can claim preferential duty under the ASEAN–India Free Trade Agreement with a valid Form AI certificate of origin, where the origin rule is met — otherwise it enters at the MFN rate.
• Not RCEP. RCEP covers ASEAN, China, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand, but not India. Never put an Indian lot on an RCEP certificate.
• Regional supply. Thailand also produces lac, and some Singapore and Malaysian traders sell flake into Jakarta in smaller lots. For regular volume, a direct FCL from Kolkata to Tanjung Priok is usually the cheaper route.

Import licences and landed cost

Who imports: an Indonesian importer of record with an NIB business number and an API import licence — API-U for general trading, API-P for a producer importing for its own use. The foreign supplier does not file the import declaration (PIB).

Landed-cost building blocks (check live rates on INSW before quoting — they change):

• Import duty (Bea Masuk): the MFN rate for the confirmed tariff line, or the AIFTA preferential rate with a valid Form AI.
• VAT (PPN): charged on the import value including duty.
• Advance income tax (PPh Pasal 22): typically 2.5% for importers with an API, higher without.
• Port and inland costs: terminal handling, demurrage, trucking to the warehouse, and a surveyor's report if the tariff line requires one.

Classification: lac and shellac are generally classified under HS 1301; lac wax may fall under 1521. Confirm the 8-digit Indonesian code (BTKI) with the importer and broker before the first shipment — a wrong heading causes a customs hold that costs more than the duty.

Controlled chemicals: Indonesia tightened import rules for listed chemicals and hazardous substances in 2025. Natural lac resin is not normally in those groups, but check the current annexes for your tariff line, and describe the goods accurately — for example "dewaxed orange shellac flakes, natural lac resin, CAS 9000-59-3, industrial coating use".

BPOM: usually not needed for flake used in furniture varnish or ink. It becomes relevant when shellac goes into food, drug or cosmetic manufacturing — never describe a food lot as "technical resin" to avoid it.

Planning a bulk shipment

Packing	25 kg paper or PP bags, palletised and stretch-wrapped; fibre drums for bleached grades.
Container payload	Often around 8–16 MT per 20-foot container, depending on bag size and stacking — confirm before booking.
Trial before FCL	Industrial buyers usually test a few kilograms, then trial or buy by the container. Our trial MOQ is 100 kg.
Quality on each lot	Batch COA: colour, wax, acid value, hot-alcohol insolubles, moisture — and flow for abrasive use.
Terms	CIF Tanjung Priok or Tanjung Perak for first accounts; FOB Kolkata or CFR once the importer is established. USD pricing per kg.
Storage	Below about 25 °C and dry, first-in first-out. Tropical heat will block flake quickly.

Ports and documents

• Ports: Tanjung Priok (Jakarta) for West Java industry, Tanjung Perak (Surabaya) for East Java furniture and manufacturing, and Belawan for North Sumatra. Transit from India's east coast is typically a few weeks, depending on transshipment.
• Documents: commercial invoice in USD with HS code, grade and Incoterm; packing list with bag count and lot numbers; bill of lading to the API importer; certificate of origin — Form AI if claiming AIFTA; batch COA; and a GHS safety data sheet (Bahasa Indonesia preferred by many warehouses, English widely accepted).
• Match everything: the invoice description, bag marks and COA must agree — customs at Priok checks all three.

What we supply to Indonesian buyers

Indonesia is an industrial market, and that matches our range: shellac flakes in orange, blonde and garnet for furniture finishing and inks, button lac for leather and finishing, seedlac for blending and further processing, and dewaxed shellac for inks and pale finishes, plus lac dye for natural-dye batik and textile studios — each with a batch COA and Form AI on request. Tell us the application, grade and port when you request a quote.

Quick answers

Can Indian shellac enter Indonesia at a preferential duty? Yes, under the ASEAN–India Free Trade Agreement with a valid Form AI certificate of origin, if the origin rule is met. India is not part of RCEP, so an RCEP certificate cannot be used for Indian goods.

Is BPOM approval needed for shellac used in furniture varnish? Usually not. BPOM becomes relevant when shellac is sold into food, drug or cosmetic manufacturing. Keep industrial and food item codes separate.

Why does shellac arrive stuck together in Indonesia? Heat and moisture during the voyage or in the container yard make flakes block. Ask for cool stowage, use liner bags and move the container inland the same week it is released. See why shellac blocks in storage.

This page summarises market and customs practice as of September 2026. Confirm the live BTKI tariff line, duty, AIFTA origin rules, import annexes, taxes and BPOM scope with a licensed Indonesian broker before shipping. It is not legal advice.