Indonesian Coffee Telex Release vs Original BL: 2025 Guide

Emergency mid‑shipment playbook to convert an Original BL to telex release within 48 hours for Indonesian coffee shipments. What to prepare, who must authorize, carrier fees, LC pitfalls, and how to avoid demurrage and detention.

If you are staring at a vessel ETA and the courier still hasn’t delivered the Original Bills of Lading, this is for you. We once saved a buyer over USD 10,247 in demurrage and detention by switching from OBL to telex in under 48 hours. Same coffee. Same vessel. Different outcome.

This guide distills how we handle OBL to telex conversion for Indonesian coffee in 2025. It is the mid‑shipment rescue plan we use on containers of Mandheling, Java, Bali Kintamani, and Gayo coffee when paper slows down the cargo.

The 3 pillars of a fast OBL to telex conversion

Authority. The shipping line only acts on the documented rights holder. That can be the shipper on the ocean BL, the endorsee on a negotiable BL, or the bank if an LC is in play. Get the right party to instruct the line. Guessing costs days.
Alignment. If there is a House BL from a forwarder and a Master BL from the carrier, both must align. Surrendering only the HBL does not release cargo. Match shipper, consignee, and container numbers across documents before you request telex.
Accuracy. Lines reject incomplete packs. In my experience, 3 out of 5 delays come from missing bank letters, unpaid freight, or a consignee name change requested after surrender. Fix data first. Then submit once.

Your 48‑hour checklist for Indonesia (Jakarta or Surabaya)

Hour 0–6. Confirm who can authorize and gather the pack

Identify the BL type. Carrier BL with Maersk, MSC, CMA, etc. Or House BL from a forwarder. If both exist, you will need surrender on the HBL and the MBL.
Check title. Who holds the OBL set. If the BL is consigned “to order” and endorsed, confirm the endorsee. If under LC, the bank usually controls title until negotiation.
Collect documents. We submit this minimal pack:
- Full set of original BLs for surrender or a lost BL letter of indemnity with bank guarantee if OBL is lost.
- Shipper’s instruction letter requesting telex release, signed and stamped.
- Commercial invoice, packing list, and proof of freight payment if freight prepaid was not evident.
- If LC or CAD, bank release letter instructing telex release or surrender to line, plus endorsement trail.
- Company IDs and specimen signature if the line requests KTP/SIUP/NPWP equivalents for Indonesian shippers.
Verify data. Consignee name and address, notify party, and cargo details must match the carrier system. If a name change is needed, ask for a BL amendment first. Then request telex.
Contact the right offices. Email the carrier’s origin documentation desk in Jakarta or Surabaya and copy the destination office releasing the Delivery Order. Ask them to confirm the surrender location and the telex release fee before you courier anything.

Practical takeaway. Decide authority early. If a bank is involved, no one moves faster than your bank. Get them started now.

Hour 6–24. Surrender and pay what unlocks the switch

Physical surrender. If you hold the OBL, surrender it at the carrier’s origin counter in Jakarta or Surabaya. The carrier will stamp it surrendered and process the telex flag in their system.
Bank‑held BL. If the OBL sits with your bank under an LC, ask the issuing or negotiating bank to issue a release instruction to the carrier. Some lines accept authenticated SWIFT MT799 or a formal bank letter on letterhead. We attach the bank’s instruction to our telex request.
Lost OBL. Expect the line to require a shipper’s LOI plus a bank guarantee up to 200 percent of CIF value for a defined period. Not every buyer loves this, but it works when paper disappears.
Fees and where they land. Typical 2025 telex release fees in Indonesia we see at origin:
- Maersk. IDR 800,000 to 1,200,000 per BL, plus standard documentation.
- MSC. IDR 700,000 to 1,000,000 per BL.
- CMA CGM. IDR 600,000 to 1,000,000 per BL. Ranges vary by contract and local office. Destination will still collect Delivery Order and local charges from your buyer.
Sample email you can adapt: Subject: Request to convert OBL to Telex Release – [Vessel/Voy] – [BL No.] Dear [Carrier] Jakarta Docs Team, We are the shipper of BL [number] on [vessel/voy], POL [Port], POD [Port]. We request conversion from Original BL to Telex Release. Attached: signed request letter, invoice, packing list, OBL set for surrender [or bank release letter], and proof of freight payment. Please confirm telex release fee and surrender location. Kindly notify your [destination office] to allow DO upon arrival. Thank you.

Practical takeaway. Pay the telex fee and submit a clean, single email package. Partial submissions create back‑and‑forth that burns your free days.

Hour 24–48. Confirm the flag and align the destination clearance

Get formal confirmation. Ask the carrier to email “Telex release active” with a destination contact and any DO prerequisites. Forward this to your buyer immediately.
Destination DO. Your buyer can collect the Delivery Order with their ID and standard import documents. No OBL is required once telex shows in the line’s system.
Customs in US or EU. Telex release is standard. For the US, brokers file ISF and customs entry. FDA Prior Notice applies to food, including green coffee. In the EU, customs and any port health checks proceed normally. There is no requirement to present an original BL to customs.
Free time. If ETA and weekend overlap, ask the line for a one or two day grace extension or negotiate detention relief in exchange for prompt pickup. We have seen carriers agree when communication is proactive.

Practical takeaway. Treat the destination DO process like a relay baton. Once telex is active, the buyer should have a same day DO plan ready.

Need help with your specific BL numbers or a carrier contact in Jakarta or Surabaya. You can Contact us on whatsapp. We are happy to sanity‑check your pack before you submit.

Quick answers we get every week

Can I switch to telex release after the original BL has been issued?

Yes. Surrender the full OBL set to the issuing party and pay the telex fee. The carrier will flag the shipment as telex at origin and notify destination.

What if the OBL is with my bank under an LC?

You can still get a telex release, but the bank must authorize it. Ask the issuing or negotiating bank to instruct the carrier to release by telex. Without the bank’s instruction, the line will decline your request.

How long does telex release take in Jakarta or Surabaya?

Same business day to one business day after complete surrender. With an LC, add your bank’s timeline. We see 24–72 hours total when a bank must issue a letter.

What documents do carriers require?

OBL set for surrender or LOI plus bank guarantee if lost.
Shipper’s telex release request letter.
Invoice, packing list, and proof of freight payment.
If LC or CAD, bank release or endorsement trail.
Company IDs if requested by the line.

How much are telex release fees in Indonesia in 2025?

Generally IDR 600,000 to 1,200,000 per BL depending on line and contract. Destination DO and local charges are separate. Always ask your specific carrier office for a pro‑forma.

Will US or EU customs accept a telex release for green coffee?

Yes. Customs cares about filings and compliance, not the physical BL. Telex release is widely used for coffee imports in both markets.

Can I request telex if the consignee name on the BL needs to change?

Not directly. First request a BL amendment from the carrier and pay any amendment fee. After the BL shows the correct consignee, proceed to surrender for telex.

Common mistakes that add days and cost money

Surrendering the HBL but not the MBL. The carrier still sees the container blocked. Align both before you ask for telex.
Requesting a consignee change after you surrender. Amend first, then surrender.
Ignoring unpaid freight. Carriers will not telex release if freight or THC is outstanding under your contract terms.
LC constraints not read carefully. Some LCs explicitly require original BL presentation. Get the issuing bank’s written instruction to switch to telex.
Wrong surrender place. For Indonesia, surrender at the carrier’s origin office listed on the BL. We confirm by email before dispatching a messenger.
Courier delay while sitting on a telex option. If time is tight, ask the line to accept scanned OBL for pre‑validation while the physical set travels. Some offices will pre‑check and queue the release.

Costs and timing benchmarks we see in 2025

Telex release fee. IDR 600k–1.2m per BL typical for Maersk, MSC, CMA. Smaller lines can be lower or higher. Quote first.
Destination Delivery Order. Varies by port and agent. USD 60–150 equivalent is common for coffee in North America and EU, plus local terminal fees.
Demurrage and detention in Indonesia. Free time is often 5–7 days. Then USD 40–90 per day for 20 ft in the first tier and rising after day 7. The math escalates quickly, which is why a 48‑hour conversion matters.
Total timeline. No bank involved. 4–24 hours from surrender to active telex. With bank involvement. 24–72 hours depending on how fast your bank signs.

Templates and next steps you can use now

Minimal request letter wording. “We, [Shipper], request conversion of OBL to telex release for BL [number], Vessel/Voy [ ], POL [ ], POD [ ]. We will surrender the original BLs and confirm freight paid. Please advise telex fee and confirm release at destination [office].”
Documents checklist to print. OBL set. Shipper request letter. Invoice. Packing list. Freight proof. Bank letter if LC. Government ID copies if requested.
When telex is the right tool. Mid‑shipment courier delays. OBL lost. Short free time at destination. Buyers needing same day DO. For new bookings you can also consider express release at issuance, but once paper is printed, telex via surrender is the practical switch.

We pre‑arrange telex for time‑sensitive lots like Arabica Bali Kintamani Grade 1 Green Coffee Beans, Arabica Java Ijen Grade 1 Green Coffee Beans, and Sumatra Mandheling Green Coffee Beans when buyers want fast discharge and clearance. Planning your next shipment. You can View our products and we will build the right release method into the booking so you never race a courier again.

One last thought. Carriers and banks respond fastest to complete, tidy requests. Send one accurate pack. Confirm fees. Then follow up with a phone call. That combination has saved us more weekends than we care to admit.