Indonesian Coffee Export Ports: 2025 Cost & Transit Guide

Belawan vs Tanjung Priok for Sumatra coffee in 2025: real-world cost ranges, transit time realities, feeder vs trucking break-even, carrier reliability, and operational cut-offs. Actionable insights from the Indonesia-Coffee export team.

If you’re exporting Sumatra coffee in full containers this year, your first big call is the port: load at Belawan in Medan or move the box down to Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok. We’ve booked both routes for years and still run head-to-head checks every season. Here’s a focused, no-fluff guide you can use to choose confidently for your next sailing.

How we built this guide

We pulled from our 2024–2025 bookings for FCL green coffee, cross-checked with carrier schedules and local port agents in Medan and Jakarta. We’re talking coffee only. No cocoa, spices, LCL, or Eastern Indonesia ports. We looked at typical 20' and 40' high-cube loads, using through bills where possible to keep comparisons fair.

The lane and cargo we tested

We assumed export-ready green coffee from North Sumatra origins (Gayo, Lintong, Mandheling) with standard packing. Most of our 20' loads sit around 19–20 metric tons for road compliance. 40' HC can go higher, but road restrictions and axle limits often erase the benefit when trucking to Jakarta. Think lots like Sumatra Mandheling Green Coffee Beans, Sumatra Lintong Green Coffee Beans (Lintong Grade 1), and specialty Sumatran peaberries such as Sumatra Super Peaberry Green Coffee Beans. The advice below applies equally to blends and aged profiles like Musty Cup Green Coffee Beans (Aged Arabica).

Belawan vs Tanjung Priok: our head‑to‑head decision matrix

Here’s how we evaluate the choice on live shipments. No tables, just the points that change outcomes.

Setup and complexity. Belawan is simpler for Medan-area exporters because stuffing, survey, fumigation, VGM, and gate-in all happen locally. Priok adds domestic trucking coordination, equipment pickup in Jakarta, and more moving parts. If your buyer wants fast samples and predictable gate-in, Belawan is easier to execute.
Schedule flexibility. Belawan uses feeders via Singapore or Port Klang. We typically see 3–4 sailings per week, but it can drop to 2 in shoulder weeks. Priok has more mainline options and higher weekly frequency to EU/US. If you need a very specific ETD, Priok often gives you more windows.
Transit times (typical).
- Europe (Rotterdam/Hamburg). Belawan via Singapore: 30–38 days total. Priok direct or via Singapore: 26–32 days. In our experience, Priok is usually 2–6 days faster to North Europe.
- US West Coast (Long Beach/LA). Belawan via Singapore: 26–34 days. Priok direct or via Singapore: 23–28 days. Priok tends to be 2–5 days faster.
- US East Coast. Belawan via Singapore: 35–45 days. Priok: 33–42 days. Volatile, but Priok still averages slightly faster.
Reliability. The feeder dwell at Singapore or Port Klang is the biggest variable out of Belawan. If you hit a tight connection, Belawan can match Priok. Miss it, and you lose 3–7 days. Priok’s mainline services remove that transshipment risk, though weather and yard density can still bite.
Equipment availability. Belawan 40' HC can be tight in peak crop. If you need specific box grades or food-grade interiors, pre-book early. Priok generally has broader equipment pools. We’ve found that pre-inspecting food-grade containers is easier in Priok during Oct–Dec.
Local charges (FOB). For 2025, we’re seeing the following typical ranges for a 20' coffee container. Your precise numbers will vary by line and service contract.
- Belawan: USD 260–360 total for THC + port/terminal admin + EDI + doc + VGM + seal + scanning/security.
- Tanjung Priok: USD 320–420 total for similar items. Note: some carriers bundle THC; always check if your ocean freight quote is LCL/LCL, CY/CY, and whether THC is prepaid or collect.
Hidden costs. Domestic trucking Medan–Jakarta matters. 2025 quotes for a 20' are often IDR 27–35 million, 40' HC IDR 32–42 million, plus any overweight permits. Fumigation (if required by buyer or destination) runs roughly USD 80–150 for 20' and USD 120–200 for 40' in Medan. In Priok, expect a small uplift.
Port congestion. Belawan is steady most of the year, with year-end crop surges. Priok can see yard density spikes in Ramadan/Eid and in the Q4 rush. Lately, the longest delays we’ve felt were transshipment dwell in Singapore, not origin port queues. That’s why schedule pairing matters more than the origin port label.

Takeaway. If your buyer values the absolute shortest transit and you can justify trucking, Priok often wins. If you want simpler ops and fewer domestic legs, Belawan is the safer, calmer workflow.

Is Belawan actually faster to Europe than shipping via Jakarta?

Usually no. Priok is typically 2–6 days faster to North Europe because you can ride a mainline loop and skip the feeder dwell. The exception is when you catch a tight Belawan–Singapore connection that feeds a fast Europe string with minimal dwell. We’ve seen Belawan land within a day of Priok on a good week, but you can’t bank on it.

How do Belawan’s local FOB charges compare to Tanjung Priok in 2025?

Belawan’s local charges for a 20' coffee container are typically USD 260–360 all-in for port/terminal fees. Priok is commonly USD 320–420. That gap narrows if your carrier bundles THC or if your forwarder has a Priok-specific package. Always ask for a line-item breakdown and which side pays THC.

When does it make sense to truck a full container from Medan to Jakarta instead of loading at Belawan?

Use a simple break-even check:

Step 1. Estimate trucking cost Medan–Jakarta. For 2025, a 20' sits around IDR 27–35 million. Let’s call it IDR 30m (~USD 1,900 at 15,800 IDR/USD). Add any overweight permit.
Step 2. Estimate days saved by Priok vs Belawan on your lane. To Rotterdam, Priok often saves 3–5 days.
Step 3. Put a value on time. If your buyer penalizes late arrivals or if coffee is tied to a retail launch, shaving a week can be priceless. If not, use your carrying cost. Some buyers peg a day of delay at USD 50–100 per TEU in soft costs. Others focus purely on landed freight.
Step 4. Compare delta. If Priok ocean rate is equal or cheaper, and the time value plus reliability justifies USD 1,900 trucking, go Priok. If Belawan’s feeder connection is tight and your buyer is flexible on ETA, Belawan wins on cost with minimal risk.

A live example from Q1 2025. A 20' to Hamburg: Belawan via Singapore 35 days. Priok direct 30 days. Trucking IDR 30m (~USD 1,900). Local charge delta Priok +USD 80. If your buyer gains a week in shelf time or avoids stock-out, Priok is usually the smarter move. If not time-sensitive, Belawan saves money with acceptable risk. Need help modeling your lane with real quotes? You can Contact us on whatsapp.

Do feeder transshipments via Singapore or Port Klang add significant delay for coffee exports?

They can. The feeder leg itself is short. Belawan–Singapore is about 1–2 days sailing. The wildcard is dwell time waiting to load the mainline ship. Tight connections add 0–2 days. Missed connections add 3–7 days. In our experience, that dwell is the single biggest variable in the Belawan route. When we plan Belawan, we prefer carriers that control both the feeder and the mother vessel or offer protected connections on a through bill.

Which carriers feel most reliable out of Belawan to US/EU in 2025?

From Belawan to transshipment hubs, we often use Sealand/Maersk, CMA CGM, ONE, MSC, and regional feeders like RCL or X‑Press Feeders. For the long leg to EU/US from Singapore or Port Klang, Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, and Evergreen have been consistent for us. The real trick is pairing a reliable feeder with a mainline service that doesn’t leave you waiting. Ask your forwarder to show the planned connection time and historical on-time data for that string.

What are typical cut-off and stuffing windows at Belawan for coffee containers?

Expect this pattern:

Booking confirmation. 5–7 days before feeder ETD is comfortable. Earlier during peak crop.
Stuffing window. 1–2 days before CY cut-off. Coffee surveys and fumigation (if required) are easier if you plan 24–36 hours before gate-in.
VGM cut-off. Often 12–24 hours before CY cut-off, depending on the line.
CY cut-off. Typically 24–48 hours before feeder ETD.
Docs cut-off. 12–24 hours before CY cut-off for SI and draft B/L.

We recommend early gate-in for Belawan if your connection is tight. Missing the feeder can mean a week lost.

Practical takeaways you can use tomorrow

Protect the connection. If you choose Belawan, prioritize a through bill and ask for the scheduled dwell. A 24–36 hour connection window is ideal.
Don’t overweight your savings. Trucking to Priok looks expensive, but if you’re selling into a fixed promotion window, Priok’s faster and more predictable sailings can save the season.
Book equipment early. 40' HC food-grade can be scarce in Belawan in Q4. Pre-block equipment and request interior photos if your buyer is strict.
Check fumigation early. Many EU buyers don’t need it. Some US buyers do. In Belawan, fumigation slots can get tight right before cut-off.
Mind road limits. If you truck to Jakarta, mind axle and gross limits. For coffee, 20' often avoids headaches compared with heavily loaded 40' HC.

Example routing picks for typical buyers

North Europe roasters needing speed. Priok if your budget can carry the truck. If not, Belawan with a protected Singapore connection on a strong Europe loop.
US West Coast importers with tight timelines. Priok is our default when time matters. Belawan is fine if your buyer is flexible.
Price-driven buyers with relaxed ETAs. Belawan wins most months on total origin costs and simplicity.
Specialty lots with strict container standards. Priok’s equipment pool can be easier in peak season. For rare microlots like Sumatra Super Peaberry Green Coffee Beans or aged profiles like Musty Cup Green Coffee Beans (Aged Arabica), we sometimes pick Priok solely for equipment quality and inspection convenience.

The reality is, you don’t need a rule for every shipment. You need a framework. Compare total origin cost, expected dwell, and the value of time for that buyer. Then choose the port that aligns with the outcome you care about. If you want to see current schedules and costed scenarios for your next container, View our products and we’ll share routing options alongside samples.