Importing candles from Indonesia comes down to four things: the right HS code (3406), an Incoterm both sides actually understand, four core shipping documents, and a customs broker who can confirm your specific duty rate before the shipment leaves the factory. Get those four right and the rest of the process is logistics, not guesswork.
Most of the friction we see with first-time buyers isn’t about the candles at all. It’s about paperwork nobody agreed on until the shipment was already at the port.
The HS Code You’ll Need: 3406
HS code 3406 covers candles, tapers and the like — scented jar candles, pillar candles, tealights, tapers, all of it, under Chapter 34 alongside waxes and polishing preparations. Global duty rates on this heading typically run 0–10%, though the exact number depends entirely on your destination country and whether any trade agreement or preference program applies between that country and Indonesia. That last part changes over time and varies by market, so don’t take a duty rate you read somewhere as current — confirm the live rate with your customs broker before you commit to a landed cost.
Choosing Your Incoterm
Three Incoterms cover most candle shipments out of Indonesia, and which one you pick determines who’s responsible for what — and where the risk transfers — not just who pays.
EXW (Ex Works) — the factory makes the goods available at their door. You (or your freight forwarder) handle everything from there: trucking to the port, export clearance, ocean freight, import clearance. Cheapest quoted price, most work on your end.
FOB (Free on Board) — the manufacturer gets the goods loaded onto the vessel at the Indonesian port. Risk and cost transfer to you once it’s on board. This is the most common term for buyers who already have a freight forwarder on their end and just want the factory to handle domestic Indonesian logistics.
CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) — the seller arranges and pays for shipping and insurance to your destination port. Costs more than FOB, but it’s the simplest option if you don’t have an existing freight relationship and want one all-in number.
Whichever term you pick, put it in writing everywhere — the purchase order, the commercial invoice, the packing list and the bill of lading all need to show the same Incoterm and the same named port. Mismatched Incoterms across your own documents is a surprisingly common way to create a customs delay that has nothing to do with the product itself.
The Documents Your Shipment Needs
Four documents form the backbone of nearly every candle import shipment:
- Commercial invoice. Seller, buyer, product description, quantity, unit value and total value, and the agreed Incoterm. This is what customs uses to calculate duty.
- Packing list. Carton counts, weights and dimensions per SKU. Customs checks this against the physical shipment, so it needs to match the commercial invoice exactly — not approximately.
- Bill of lading. Issued once the goods are on the vessel. Unlike a waybill, it’s a contractually binding document and, depending on the type issued, may be required to release the cargo at destination.
- Certificate of origin. Declares the goods originated in Indonesia, which matters both for standard customs processing and for any preferential duty treatment your destination market may offer Indonesian goods. It’s typically certified by a chamber of commerce or relevant Indonesian authority, not just self-declared by the exporter.
On the Indonesian export side, your manufacturer also needs their own documentation in order — an active Tax ID and NIB (Nomor Induk Berusaha, the Indonesian business identification number) at minimum. If a factory can’t produce these without delay, that’s worth noticing before you place a deposit, not after.
Why Surabaya Specifically
Where your supplier is based inside Indonesia actually affects your shipping timeline, not just your factory tour options. Surabaya sits on Tanjung Perak, one of Indonesia’s busiest ports and the main gateway for East Java’s export trade — which means container availability, sailing frequency and freight forwarder familiarity with the route tend to be better than with smaller regional ports that see less regular container traffic.
Duties, Taxes and What to Actually Ask Your Broker
Don’t ask “what’s the duty rate on candles” as a general question — ask your customs broker three specific things: the current duty rate for HS 3406 into your specific destination country, whether any trade preference program currently applies to Indonesian-origin goods for that country (this changes over time, so treat any number you’ve seen online as a starting point for verification, not a final answer), and whether your destination market applies any additional product-specific requirements at the border beyond standard duty — safety labeling checks are the most common one for candles specifically.
Common Mistakes First-Time Importers Make
- Agreeing on price before agreeing on Incoterm. A “cheap” quote under EXW terms can end up costing more once you’ve added freight, insurance and customs brokerage that a CIF quote would have already included.
- Packing list and commercial invoice that don’t match. Even small discrepancies — a carton count off by one, a weight that doesn’t add up — can trigger a customs hold while it gets sorted out.
- Not confirming the certificate of origin process early. This document takes time to process through the relevant Indonesian authority; requesting it after the goods are already at the port is a common cause of delay.
- Assuming one destination market’s requirements apply everywhere. A shipment compliant for the US isn’t automatically compliant for the EU — labeling and safety documentation requirements differ by market (we cover this in detail in our guide to candle export certifications).
What This Means for Your AsterCandle Order
We’re based in Surabaya, East Java, and we quote under standard Incoterms — FOB, CIF and EXW — and prepare the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin your customs broker will ask for. Tell us your destination market when you request a quote and we’ll flag anything specific to it before production starts, not after your shipment is already at the port.
See our full export and order process, or request a quote with your product category, quantity and destination market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What HS code do I use for importing candles?
HS code 3406 covers candles, tapers and similar products. Global duty rates on this heading typically run 0–10%, but confirm the exact rate for your destination country with your customs broker, since it depends on local tariff schedules and any applicable trade preference programs.
Which Incoterm should I use for my first order?
If you don’t have an existing freight forwarder relationship, CIF is usually the simplest starting point — the manufacturer arranges shipping and insurance, and you get one landed cost to evaluate. Once you have your own freight relationships in place, FOB typically gives you more control over cost and carrier choice on repeat orders.
How long does customs clearance take for candle shipments?
It varies by destination port and whether your documentation is complete and consistent on first submission. The single biggest factor within your control is making sure the commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading all match exactly — mismatches are the most common cause of clearance delays that have nothing to do with the product itself.