Honest buyer note: Our furniture is made from solid Indonesian teak in vetted workshops in Jepara and Bali, so expect natural grain, colour variation and a small dimensional tolerance between pieces. Grade A kiln-dried teak runs about 8–12% moisture content for export markets; teak grades (A, B, reclaimed) are banded descriptions, not guarantees of identical appearance. All prices, MOQs, lead times, CBM and container counts are indicative ranges (FOB Indonesia) and final pricing is by quote. We work only with legal, documented timber — Indonesia’s SVLK system, with V-Legal / FLEGT documents; FSC-certified teak is available on request at a premium. We do not claim certifications we do not hold. We act as an independent sourcing desk and handle export packing and documentation.
Importing teak furniture from Indonesia to the USA and EU comes down to getting four things right: legal-wood documentation, the correct customs classification, the shipping documents, and compliance with each market’s import rules. The good news is that Indonesia is a mature, established furniture-export origin with well-trodden routes to both markets, so the process is routine when you work with a proper exporter. Teak furniture generally classifies under HS code 9403 (other furniture and parts), must ship with SVLK legality documentation, and crosses into the US under Lacey Act rules and into the EU under its deforestation and due-diligence framework. This guide walks a wholesale buyer through the import process step by step.
We export to both markets regularly, so here is the practical roadmap from an export desk.
Get the legal-wood documentation right first
Legality is the foundation of a clean import. Indonesian teak should ship with SVLK (Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu) documentation proving the wood was legally sourced and traded. This matters at both ends: the US Lacey Act prohibits importing illegally harvested wood and requires importers to exercise due care, and the EU’s evolving framework (moving from the FLEGT/EUTR regime toward the EU Deforestation Regulation, EUDR) places due-diligence obligations on importers to ensure products are legal and deforestation-free. Well-documented SVLK chains support meeting both. Confirm your supplier provides this paperwork before you order — see sustainable teak and SVLK legal logging.
Know your HS code and duties
Customs classification determines duty and clearance. Teak furniture typically falls under HS heading 9403 (other furniture and parts thereof), with the specific subheading depending on the type and use. The HS code drives the duty rate, which varies by destination — the US and EU each have their own tariff schedules, and rates can differ for wooden furniture categories. Confirm the exact classification and applicable duty for your specific products with your customs broker before you commit, so the landed cost is accurate. Your commercial invoice and documents must state the classification consistently. The document set is detailed on our teak furniture export documentation page.
The core shipping documents
Every import needs a standard set of documents, and accuracy matters because customs and (for LC payments) banks check them strictly. The essentials are the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and the SVLK/legality documentation; depending on the market and product, fumigation/ISPM-15 certification for wood packaging and any required phytosanitary or additional certificates. Errors or mismatches between documents cause delays and, under a letter of credit, can hold up payment — see teak furniture payment terms. A competent exporter prepares this set correctly as routine.
Choose Incoterms and arrange freight
Decide who controls and pays for each shipping leg. Under FOB, the supplier delivers the goods loaded at the Indonesian port and you arrange and pay ocean freight, insurance and onward costs — giving you control over the freight forwarder. Under CIF, the supplier arranges freight and insurance to your destination port. Many experienced importers use FOB with their own forwarder for control and cost transparency; newer importers sometimes prefer CIF for simplicity. Either way, order to full-container-load where volume allows for the best freight economics, and ensure professional packing against transit damage — see teak furniture container loading and breakage.
Clearance, delivery and planning the timeline
On arrival, a customs broker files the entry, pays duties and taxes, and clears the goods, after which they move to your warehouse. Build the full timeline realistically: production lead time, ocean transit (a few weeks to Australia and Asia, longer to the US coasts and Northern Europe), then port handling, customs clearance and inland delivery. Add buffer for the season. A buyer who plans only the factory time and forgets weeks at sea and at the border will miss the window. The full export-route picture is on our teak furniture export to USA, Europe and Australia page, and lead time in teak furniture production lead time.
Working with a customs broker
A good customs broker at the destination is one of the most valuable relationships an importer can build. The broker confirms the correct HS classification and duty for your specific products, prepares and files the customs entry, advises on documentation and any market-specific requirements, and handles the interface with customs authorities so your container clears smoothly. For a first-time importer especially, a competent broker prevents the classification errors and document mismatches that cause delays and unexpected charges. Engage the broker early — before you finalise the order — so they can confirm duties and any compliance requirements that affect your landed cost and your paperwork. The modest broker fee is small insurance against a held container, and an experienced broker often pays for themselves by getting the classification and process right the first time.
Calculating true landed cost
Smart importers price on landed cost, not the factory quote. Landed cost adds, on top of the FOB or CIF price, the ocean freight (if not included), marine insurance, destination port and handling charges, customs duty and any import taxes, the customs broker’s fee, and inland delivery to your warehouse. Only when all of these are summed do you know the real per-unit cost on your shelf, and therefore your true margin. A piece that looks cheap at FOB can become uncompetitive once freight, duty and handling are added, while flat-pack volume that ships efficiently can deliver a strong landed cost. Building a complete landed-cost model for each order — and confirming the duty rate with your broker before committing — is how you avoid the unpleasant surprise of a healthy-looking quote that turns thin once everything is counted.
Frequently asked questions
What HS code is teak furniture? Teak furniture generally falls under HS heading 9403 (other furniture and parts), with the exact subheading depending on the item. Confirm the precise code and duty with your customs broker.
Do I need special documents to import teak? Yes — alongside the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin, you need SVLK legality documentation, plus ISPM-15 for wood packaging. The US applies the Lacey Act and the EU its due-diligence rules.
Is importing Indonesian teak complicated? Not when you work with a proper exporter. Indonesia is an established furniture-export origin with routine routes to the US and EU; the key is correct legality paperwork and accurate documents.
Should I import FOB or CIF? FOB gives you control over freight and cost transparency through your own forwarder; CIF is simpler because the supplier arranges freight and insurance to your port. Choose by your experience and preference.
Importing teak is routine when the legality paperwork, HS classification, documents and Incoterms are handled correctly from the start. To plan an import to the USA or EU with a proper document set, contact our sourcing desk on WhatsApp at +6281139414563 or email bd@juaraholding.com, and map the route on our teak furniture export to USA, Europe and Australia page.