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.
Buying a teak furniture FCL container from Indonesia means thinking in CBM, not in single pieces — our minimum order is container-anchored. Bali Teak Furniture is an independent sourcing desk that loads full container loads (FCL) at Semarang and Surabaya, and consolidates mixed containers across vetted Jepara and Bali workshops. This page explains MOQ, 20ft and 40ft container capacity in CBM, how packing affects fill, what FCL versus LCL means for teak, and how we load to minimise breakage — so you can plan a container with realistic numbers.
Why our MOQ is container-anchored
Teak furniture is bulky relative to its weight, and ocean freight is priced largely by container, not by item. Shipping a handful of tables makes no commercial sense: the per-unit freight and fixed export costs swamp the goods. So our practical minimum is filling a container — either a single-workshop FCL or a consolidated mixed FCL across several workshops. This is standard across the Indonesian furniture export trade, and it is why “what is your MOQ” is better asked as “how do we fill a container efficiently.”
Container capacity in CBM
Capacity is measured in cubic metres (CBM). A standard 20ft container has roughly 33 CBM of internal volume but holds about 25–28 CBM of furniture once you account for packing and load gaps. A 40ft high-cube (HC) has around 76 CBM internal and holds about 58–68 CBM of furniture. These are working figures, not theoretical maximums — real fill depends on how regular the pieces are and how well they nest. We plan to a target CBM so the container is economically full without overloading.
How packing changes how much you fit
Packing method is the biggest variable in container fill. Assembled furniture — especially chairs, loungers, and tables with fixed legs — traps air and fills a container fast with relatively few pieces. Knock-down (KD / flat-pack) furniture, where tops, legs, and frames detach and stack, can multiply the piece count per container several times over and usually reduces transit breakage too. For tables, beds, shelving, and many outdoor sets we recommend KD packing with clear assembly hardware and instructions. Some carved or upholstered items must ship assembled; we plan the load mix accordingly.
FCL versus LCL for teak
FCL (full container load) means the container is exclusively yours. LCL (less than container load) shares a container with other shippers’ cargo. For teak furniture we strongly favour FCL: LCL means extra handling at consolidation and deconsolidation warehouses, which is exactly where furniture gets knocked, scuffed, and broken. If your volume cannot fill a 20ft alone, the better route is usually a consolidated FCL — we combine your order with complementary items so the whole container is yours and handled once.
Consolidating across workshops
One of the main advantages of buying through a desk is consolidation. Your dining program might come from one Jepara workshop, your outdoor loungers from a second, and case goods from a third. We bring them to one loading point, build a single packing list, and load them into one FCL under one set of export documents. This fills containers efficiently for buyers who want range variety without committing a full container to each model.
Estimating how much fits: a worked example
It helps to plan in CBM from the start. Suppose a 40ft high-cube targets about 62 CBM of usable furniture volume. A fully assembled outdoor dining chair might occupy roughly 0.35–0.5 CBM each because of trapped air around the legs and back, so a container fills with relatively few. The same chair shipped knock-down — seat, back, and legs flat-packed — might drop to a fraction of that, multiplying the count several times over. Dining tables behave similarly: legs-off packing stacks far denser than legs-on. We build a load plan in CBM per model so you know the realistic piece count before committing, rather than discovering at the port that the container is half air.
Weight, balance, and overloading limits
Volume is not the only limit; weight matters too. Solid teak is dense, so a container can hit its maximum payload before it is visually full, especially with heavy reclaimed or thick solid-top pieces. A standard 20ft and 40ft each have a legal maximum gross weight, and ports and road haulage enforce it. We balance the load — heavy items distributed low and evenly, not stacked at one end — both to stay within limits and to keep the container stable at sea. For dense-product orders we may reach the weight limit around the same time as the volume limit, which we plan for rather than discover during loading.
How we load to protect the goods
Loss happens at loading and in transit, so loading discipline matters. We use corner protectors, edge boards, foam or honeycomb on vulnerable surfaces, stretch wrap, and bracing so pieces cannot shift. Heavy items go low, lighter and fragile items go high, and voids are blocked so nothing slides on the ocean leg. Wood packaging that requires it carries ISPM-15 heat-treatment marks. A pre-shipment inspection confirms count, condition, and packing against the list before the container is sealed.
Loading ports and lead time
We load at two main ports, chosen by where the goods are built. Jepara and central-Java production usually loads at Semarang (Tanjung Emas); east-Java and some Bali consolidations load at Surabaya (Tanjung Perak). Bali-built items are typically trucked to the nearest efficient loading port rather than shipped from Bali directly, which we factor into the FOB. Plan the calendar realistically: from a confirmed order — and a signed sample on custom work — production to a loaded container commonly runs 45–90 days depending on volume, finish complexity, and whether items are stock or built to order, then ocean transit on top. Booking the vessel and confirming the cut-off date sit alongside production so the finished container is not waiting on the quay or, worse, missing its sailing.
Frequently asked questions
What is your minimum order? Container-anchored — an FCL, either single-workshop or a consolidated mixed container across workshops.
How much furniture fits a 40ft HC? Roughly 58–68 CBM of furniture, more by piece count with knock-down packing.
Should I order flat-pack or assembled? Knock-down maximises container fill and reduces breakage for most tables, beds, and outdoor sets; some carved items must ship assembled.
Can I mix products from different workshops? Yes — we consolidate into one FCL under one packing list and one set of documents.
Plan your container: send your target product mix to bd@juaraholding.com or WhatsApp +62 811-3941-4563 and we will map it to a 20ft or 40ft HC load plan with indicative FOB Semarang ranges.