November 18, 2025
Choosing the right International Shipping Partner is a strategic decision that determines the success of your export-import operations. With Indonesia's trade balance recorded on the Badan Pusat Statistik platform in 2025, a surplus of US$33.48 billion and export growth of 8.14%, the need for reliable logistics partners has become increasingly crucial, especially with 41.81% of exports heading to China, the US, and India, thus requiring a strong presence in these three major markets.
With ACI World projecting international air traffic to grow 5.3% to reach 9.8 billion passengers (2025), increased cargo capacity opens the door to more efficient routing and competitive rates for your shipments. This article provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating forwarders based on legality, global network, documentation capabilities, cost transparency, and tracking technology.
Baca Juga : Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) Adalah? Pengertian dan Contohnya dalam Ekspor Impor
Ensure your partner is an officially licensed freight forwarder with complete operational permits and international certifications, including ISOQAR, ISO 9001, IATA, TAPA, and AEO. Certified forwarders provide end-to-end supply chain services with guaranteed global standards.
Benefits of working with certified forwarders:
Partners with extensive networks (ideally 100+ offices globally) facilitate smoother shipping processes, expedite customs clearance, and provide alternative solutions during operational challenges.
Evaluate reputation through:
Ensure international shipping partner tracking is available for real-time monitoring of cargo position from departure to final destination.
International shipping from Indonesia requires complete documentation: a commercial invoice, a detailed packing list, a Certificate of Origin (COO), a Bill of Lading/Airway Bill, and, depending on the cargo type, special permits.
Professional partners help ensure document completeness in accordance with the regulations of the origin and destination countries to minimize the risk of customs detention. Incomplete documentation can result in financial penalties or shipment rejection.
Credible partners provide clear cost breakdowns: freight charges (air/sea), handling fees, documentation, customs clearance, insurance, and other additional costs. Avoid offers that seem too cheap without details—this indicates hidden costs that can be 2-3x higher than the initial freight cost.
Based on information on the ACI World website, with international traffic growing 5.3% and cargo capacity expanding, experienced partners leverage optimized flight frequencies to provide realistic time estimates and more efficient routing to major export destinations.
Advanced tracking systems enable 24/7 monitoring from departure to final destination. User-friendly digital platforms, with website and mobile app access, provide supply chain visibility and rapid responses to challenges.
Consider integrating automated reporting with internal management systems and 24/7 customer support—crucial given time-zone differences in international shipping.
Evaluate at least 3-5 freight forwarders based on reputation, cost structure, service quality, network coverage, and time estimates. Request detailed quotations including complete cost breakdown, terms and conditions, coverage area, and SLA (Service Level Agreement).
From the data on the ANTARANews website, with 65 consecutive months of surplus and manufacturing industry exports totaling US$167.85 billion, your negotiating power increases—leverage this data to secure competitive rates.
Official forwarders have complete operational licenses, international certifications (IATA, ISO, AEO), and full responsibility for documentation, handling, and legality. Regular couriers are often just intermediaries. The main difference is in the scale of shipments and the operational model. International couriers like DHL, FedEx, and UPS focus on small packages (under 45-70 kg), offer door-to-door delivery, and hold comprehensive certifications (ISO, TAPA, IATA, etc.). While freight forwarders handle bulk cargo (over 70 kg), logistics coordinators arrange documentation, customs clearance, and warehousing through a global network of transportation partners without owning their own fleets.
Professional partners provide unique tracking numbers for 24/7 real-time monitoring via website/mobile app, with regular updates via email and WhatsApp for convenient cargo position monitoring.
Air freight: 3-7 days (Asia-Pacific), 5-10 days (Europe/Americas). Sea freight: 2-4 weeks (Asia), 4-8 weeks (Europe/Americas). With international traffic growing 5.3% and cargo capacity expanding, experienced partners provide accurate estimates by leveraging higher flight frequencies.
Selecting the right International Shipping Partner requires a comprehensive evaluation of legality, reputation, documentation capabilities, cost transparency, and tracking technology, followed by a thorough comparison before making your final decision. This is a strategic investment that will determine the smooth operation of your export-import activities from Indonesia.
UNIAIR Cargo, with 35+ years of experience in international shipping since 1989, has helped numerous companies across various industries ship cargo worldwide safely and on time. As part of Dimerco Express Group, with 300+ global offices and comprehensive certifications, we understand the complexities of international shipping. We are ready to be your strategic partner, supporting your export business growth with transparent, efficient, and regulation-compliant end-to-end supply chain solutions.
Contact the Uniair Cargo team
today for a FREE consultation and export cost estimate!
Also, follow us on Instagram at @uniaircargo
for logistics tips, up-to-date information, and export inspiration!
