Indonesian IQF Vegetables Pricing: 2026 FOB & CFR Guide

A practical, step-by-step method to normalize Indonesian IQF vegetable quotes and convert any FOB offer into a true 2026 CFR per‑kg price. We unpack origin charges, reefer surcharges, container utilization, and a worked example to Rotterdam so buyers can compare apples to apples.

The hook: why your “cheap” FOB isn’t always cheaper

We’ve seen two suppliers quote the same IQF spec, same lane, and end up 8–12% apart on real landed CFR just because one hid origin costs behind a low FOB. If you’re comparing Indonesian IQF offers across FOB and CFR, you need a clean way to normalize everything to the same per‑kg CFR. Here’s the system we use with buyers who source items like Premium Frozen Okra, Premium Frozen Sweet Corn, and Frozen Mixed Vegetables.

The 3 pillars of apples-to-apples CFR pricing

1. Define inclusions and exclusions with Incoterms clarity. CFR covers ocean freight to the named port, not insurance, not destination charges. FOB covers cargo up to vessel loading at origin port but misses many pre-carriage and handling details that matter.

2. Lock container utilization assumptions. CFR per‑kg swings with kilos shipped. Floor-loaded 10 kg cartons might deliver 24–26 MT net. Palletized loads often land 20–22 MT. Decide upfront which you’re modeling.

3. Roll non-product costs to per‑kg. Spread origin handling, trucking, cold-chain, and ocean fees across the expected net shipment weight. Then add that to the FOB per‑kg. Simple, but most people skip steps in the middle.

Week 1–2: Gather the right data and validate your lane

In our experience, two weeks is enough to set a reliable baseline if you request the right details from the start.

Ask suppliers for: carton size and net weight, palletized vs floor-loaded option, target load plan (pallet count or carton count), pre-cooling steps, and product temperature at stuffing. For IQF items like Frozen Paprika (Bell Peppers) - Red, Yellow, Green & Mixed and Premium Frozen Edamame, load plans differ by cut style and carton dimensions.

From your forwarder or carrier, get: 40’ HC reefer base ocean rate, BAF and LSS policies, any scheduled GRI or PSS windows, reefer plug-in handling at origin, and cutoff times for cold chain delivery. Ask them to quote Jakarta (Tanjung Priok) or Surabaya (Tanjung Perak) clearly and specify transshipment hubs.

From your exporter, confirm typical Indonesia origin costs and who pays: factory-to-port chilled trucking, port THC, export handling, cold storage days, container pre-trip, stuffing fees, VGM, SI and BL fees, phytosanitary, and any certificate of origin. Then you’re ready to model.

Week 3–6: Build your CFR calculator and test one lane

Here’s the thing. Once you build a single, well-structured calculator for one lane, replicating it across products like Premium Frozen Okra or Frozen Mixed Vegetables is fast.

How do I convert an Indonesian FOB quote to a true CFR per‑kg price?

Use this framework:

• Step 1. Start with FOB per‑kg.
• Step 2. Add origin costs per container: local chilled trucking, cold storage and pre-cooling, export handling, THC, stuffing, documentation, reefer plug-in at port.
• Step 3. Add ocean freight and reefer surcharges: base rate plus BAF, LSS, and any GRI/PSS scheduled at your ETD.
• Step 4. Divide Steps 2+3 by net shipped kg. Then add to Step 1.

Mini‑example. Tanjung Priok to Rotterdam, 40’ HC reefer, floor-loaded 10 kg cartons, net 24,000 kg.

• FOB: 1.20 USD/kg.
• Origin costs (typical 2026 budgeting in Indonesia): 980 USD/container.
  • Factory-to-port chilled trucking (West Java to Priok): 220–280 USD.
  • Cold storage 24–48 hours + pre-cooling/staging: 180–260 USD.
  • Export handling + terminal access + reefer plug-in pre-load: 160–220 USD.
  • Port THC (reefer) Indonesia origin: 250–350 USD.
  • Stuffing at cold store, labor, seals: 100–160 USD.
  • Docs: SI/BL/VGM/Phyto/COO combined: 70–120 USD.
• Ocean freight and surcharges: 3,650 USD/container.
  • Base ocean rate: 2,800 USD.
  • BAF 25% of base: 700 USD.
  • LSS: 120 USD.
  • GRI/PSS window: 30 USD.

Per‑kg adders = (980 + 3,650) / 24,000 = 4,630 / 24,000 = 0.193 USD/kg.

CFR per‑kg ≈ 1.20 + 0.193 = 1.393 USD/kg to Rotterdam. If you palletize and ship 21,000 kg instead, the same fixed costs rise to about 0.22 USD/kg. That’s why load planning matters.

Which origin charges are usually missing from FOB quotes for IQF vegetables?

We consistently see these missed or understated on Indonesian FOB offers:

• Chilled factory-to-port trucking and reefer plug-in at port while awaiting gate-in.
• Cold-storage dwell and pre-cooling prior to stuffing.
• Port THC for reefers and export terminal handling.
• Stuffing labor at cold store, seals, and on-dock handling quirks.
• Documentation bundle: SI fee, BL or telex release fee, VGM weigh ticket, phytosanitary certificate, and certificate of origin (Form D/AI/EUR.1 as applicable).
• Pallet costs or slip-sheets, shrink wrap, and labeling.

Does a CFR price include destination THC, customs, and cold storage?

No. CFR covers cost and freight to the named destination port only. It excludes insurance, destination THC, customs clearance, duties/taxes, destination inspections, port storage, reefer plug-in at destination, and on-carriage to your warehouse. We suggest you budget these locally or add a CIF/Delivered option if you prefer one invoice.

How many kilograms fit in a 40’ reefer for 10 kg IQF cartons?

Assuming standard 10 kg cartons for IQF vegetables:

• Floor-loaded: 24–26 MT net is common when airflow clearance is respected.
• Palletized: 20–22 MT net depending on pallet size, stacking height, and carton dimensions.

If your SKU set mixes carton sizes (say, Frozen Paprika (Bell Peppers) diced with larger 10 kg boxes of Premium Frozen Sweet Corn), ask for a load plan simulation by CBM and weight to avoid overweight or wasted headspace.

What reefer surcharges (BAF, LSS, GRI) should I budget for 2026?

Reefer lanes have seen continued volatility. As of late 2025 into early 2026, we budget:

• BAF: 20–35% of base ocean rate depending on fuel indices.
• LSS: 100–200 USD per 40’ reefer.
• GRI/PSS: 200–600 USD per container when applied during tight capacity or seasonal peaks.
• Occasional congestion or reefer imbalance fees: 50–200 USD.

Always ask carriers or NVOCCs for a line-item breakdown tied to your ETD week. Surcharges can change mid-month, and we’ve seen buyers miss GRIs that landed between quote and booking.

Are palletization and fumigation included in Indonesian CFR quotes?

Not by default. Most CFR quotes assume the agreed packing method. If you need ISPM‑15 heat-treated pallets for Europe or the Middle East, confirm whether pallet costs and any treatment certificates are included. Typical pallet costs in Indonesia run 9–14 USD each for export-grade. For IQF food cargo, container fumigation is rarely advisable. But if your market mandates treatment for wood packaging, it’s handled at the pallet level, not by fumigating the loaded reefer.

What documentation fees (SI, BL, VGM, phytosanitary) affect the final price?

Expect a documentation bundle in Indonesia similar to:

• SI fee: 25–45 USD.
• BL issuance/telex release: 35–80 USD.
• VGM weigh ticket: 10–25 USD.
• Phytosanitary certificate: 35–90 USD per shipment.
• Certificate of Origin (Form as required): 30–70 USD.
• Sometimes an EDI/export gate fee: 10–20 USD.

These look small individually, but together they’re material when spread over a light load.

Week 7–12: Scale and optimize once the baseline works

When your first lane is dialed, roll the model to other ports and SKUs like Premium Frozen Edamame or mixed runs that pair IQF vegetables with fresh lines such as Tomatoes or Purple Eggplant in separate programs.

Three non-obvious wins we’ve repeated with buyers:

• Lock an all-in origin “per container” number with the supplier/exporter instead of fragmented line items. This caps your per‑kg swing when volume varies.
• Fix a standard load plan for each SKU format. For 10 kg IQF cartons, set a baseline at 24,000 kg floor-loaded and 21,000 kg palletized. Quote both. Then compare.
• Cross-check freight with two NVOCCs plus one direct carrier. The best rate isn’t always the lowest base. It’s the lowest after BAF/LSS/GRI and realistic free time at destination.

If you’d like us to run your actual lane with current surcharges and load plans, just Contact us on whatsapp. We can turn around a clean CFR per‑kg within one business day for most Asia–Europe and Asia–Middle East routes.

The 5 mistakes that blow a CFR budget

1. Comparing FOB apples to CFR oranges. Always convert to the same CFR per‑kg with the same load plan.

2. Ignoring palletization penalties. Dropping from 24 MT floor-loaded to 21 MT palletized can add 0.02–0.04 USD/kg just in fixed cost allocation.

3. Missing cold-chain timing. A missed cut-off means extra cold-storage days and plug-in fees. On tight weeks, we’ve seen +80–120 USD rollovers from a single delay.

4. Underestimating surcharges. A 25% BAF on a 3,000 USD base is 750 USD. If your model holds 10%, your math is wrong before you start.

5. Not pressure-testing “free” services. Some CFR quotes quietly exclude phytosanitary, COO, or even stuffing at a cold store. Get it in writing.

Resources and next steps

• Use the four-part calculator above. Fix a load plan, list origin costs, add ocean base plus BAF/LSS/GRI, divide by net kg, then add to FOB per‑kg.
• Standardize your RFQ. Ask every supplier for carton dimensions, palletization option, expected net kilos, and a breakdown of origin cost inclusions.
• Review SKUs and formats. If you’re building an assortment, start with stable movers like Frozen Mixed Vegetables or Premium Frozen Sweet Corn. You can explore more items here: View our products.

The reality is buyers don’t need perfect information to make a good decision. They need consistent assumptions and a repeatable math model. We’ve built ours inside Indonesia’s supply chain, shipping IQF vegetables weekly. If you want a second set of eyes on your 2026 budget or a quick lane check, Contact us on whatsapp.