Indonesian Seafood Co-Packing: 2025 Pricing Guide

A practical, line‑item guide to estimating 2025 co-packing service costs in Indonesia for 500g retail IQF PD tail-off shrimp pouches. Includes fair processing fee ranges, packaging MOQs and price breaks, glaze/drip-loss impact, export docs, cold storage, and a plug-in per‑pouch formula you can use before requesting quotes.

We shaved $10,247 off a buyer’s first 40-foot shrimp co-pack in 90 days by using the same model you’ll see below. Not by squeezing suppliers. By understanding where the real money goes and structuring the spec accordingly.

If you’re pricing 500 g retail IQF PD tail-off shrimp pouches in Indonesia for 2025, this is the no-fluff breakdown we use internally. We’re focusing strictly on co-packing service fees. No raw shrimp pricing. No onward ocean freight or import duties.

The three pillars of shrimp co-pack cost in Indonesia

In our experience, every accurate estimate rides on three pillars:

Labor and line time. Peeling, deveining, grading, IQF and glazing. This is your core per-kg processing fee.
Packaging and presentation. Pouches, labels, cartons, and how you apply them. MOQs and print method matter a lot.
Compliance and logistics. Lab tests, BKIPM health cert, COO, cold storage, and container stuffing. Small charges that add up.

Get these right and your per-pouch math won’t surprise you when the invoice lands. Let’s unpack each.

What is a fair processing fee per kg for IQF peeled shrimp in 2025?

For standard PD tail-off, IQF, retail-pack handling in Indonesia, what we see as of Q1 2025:

Peeling, deveining, trimming, grading, and packing: USD 0.55–0.95 per kg finished net
IQF tunnel freezing: USD 0.08–0.15 per kg
Glazing line time (excludes water): USD 0.02–0.05 per kg
Metal detection: often included or USD 0.005–0.015 per kg
X-ray (if required by retailer): USD 0.02–0.05 per kg
QA, yield reporting, and documentation handling: USD 0.02–0.05 per kg

Fair all-in processing band (without X-ray): roughly USD 0.70–1.15 per kg finished net. Add X-ray and you’re at USD 0.90–1.35 per kg.

Here’s the thing. Lower rates often assume larger batch sizes, simpler specs, or off-peak line scheduling. If you want tight grading, photo documentation, and retail audit prep, expect the upper end.

How much do 500 g pouches, labels, and cartons cost in Indonesia right now?

2025 pouch and print costs have ticked up 3–7% in the last six months on resin and ink. Current realistic ranges for shrimp:

500 g printed vacuum pouch (3-layer, 120–150 μ, 4–7 colors): USD 0.09–0.18 per unit at 10,000+ units
Clear vacuum pouch + paper label: Pouch USD 0.035–0.055 + label USD 0.015–0.040 = USD 0.05–0.095 total
Stand-up pouch with zipper (premium look): USD 0.16–0.28 per unit at 10,000+ units
Label application service: USD 0.015–0.025 per unit (manual), automated closer to USD 0.01–0.015
5-ply master carton (10 x 500 g, printed 1–2 colors): USD 0.75–1.20 per carton

MOQs and price breaks:

Rotogravure printed pouches: MOQ 10,000–20,000 units. Price breaks at 30k and 50k.
Digital print pouches: MOQ 500–3,000 units. Higher unit cost (often +30–60%) but no cylinder fees.
Labels: MOQ 3,000–10,000. Price drops sharply over 20,000.

Tooling/cylinders for rotogravure: USD 600–1,500 total depending on color count. You usually pay this upfront on the first order.

What add-on charges do co-packers bill besides the per-kg processing rate?

Expect these line items on a typical toll processing invoice in Indonesia:

Lab tests per lot: USD 120–400 depending on scope (micro, antibiotics, heavy metals). Retailers’ lists vary.
BKIPM Health Certificate: USD 40–90 per shipment. Often pass-through.
Certificate of Origin (COO): USD 15–30.
Cold storage: USD 10–18 per pallet per week in Surabaya/Jakarta. Many factories include the first 3–5 days.
Container stuffing at factory: USD 120–220 per 40’ (includes labor, pallet jack, photos). Mixed-loads or high-count SKU pickups can add USD 30–80.
Fumigation (if wooden pallets used or buyer requests): USD 40–80 per container.
Port trucking to terminal for FOB: USD 80–160 depending on distance and city.

Note on Incoterms: EXW means you or your forwarder pick up at the factory. FOB adds local port delivery, export clearance, and terminal handling to the factory’s remit. Clarify who pays which doc fees under your Incoterm.

How do glaze percentage and drip loss affect my cost per pouch?

Buyers sometimes chase higher glaze to improve surface appearance. But drained net weight on your retail pouch must exclude glaze. Two effects to manage:

Glaze time is a small cost, but more glaze means more line time. That’s why you see the USD 0.02–0.05 per kg “glazing” charge.
Drip loss on thaw reduces drained net. If your spec requires tight fill weights, you’ll overpack to cover expected drip. That overpack is real shrimp you supply, but it also adds a touch of extra labor and pouch rejection risk.

Practical tip: For 500 g drained net, many brands spec 6–10% glaze and require a filled weight of 505–515 g pre-freeze to cushion drip loss. We recommend running a small pilot to set the right overpack and stop paying for unnecessary giveaway.

Lead times: first run vs repeat

Packaging procurement: 2–3 weeks for clear pouches and labels. 3–5 weeks for domestic printed pouches. 5–7 weeks if importing pouches.
Trial/sample run: 1–2 weeks to schedule. We suggest 300–500 kg finished net to validate yields and overpack.
First full production: 3–4 weeks after packaging on site and specs fixed.
Repeats: 2–3 weeks in normal season, longer near Ramadan/peak export windows.

Late packaging approval is the number one reason timelines slip. Lock artwork and nutrition panels early.

Plug-in formula: estimate your per‑pouch co-pack service cost

Use this to get within 10–15% before you request quotes.

Per‑pouch cost = [A + B + C + D + E] × 0.5 kg + F + G + H + I + J

Where:

A = peeling/deveining/packing per kg (USD 0.55–0.95)
B = IQF per kg (USD 0.08–0.15)
C = glazing per kg (USD 0.02–0.05)
D = metal detect/X-ray per kg (USD 0.005–0.05)
E = QA/admin per kg (USD 0.02–0.05)
F = pouch cost per unit (USD 0.05–0.28 depending on format)
G = label + application per unit if used (USD 0.03–0.06)
H = master carton allocation per pouch (USD 0.07–0.12, assuming 10 bags/carton)
I = compliance allocation per pouch (lab + BKIPM + COO divided by total pouches in lot, often USD 0.01–0.04)
J = storage + container stuffing allocation (often USD 0.02–0.04)

Worked example (mid-market spec, no X-ray):

A–E total per kg = 0.85 + 0.10 + 0.03 + 0.01 + 0.03 = USD 1.02
Processing per pouch = 1.02 × 0.5 = USD 0.51
F–H packaging = 0.12 + 0.02 + 0.09 = USD 0.23
I–J overhead allocation = USD 0.06
Estimated per‑pouch co-pack service = USD 0.80

We routinely see USD 0.42–0.95 per pouch depending on spec, volumes, and whether you choose premium stand-up pouches or clear bags with labels.

If you want us to sanity-check your math against your spec, feel free to Contact us on whatsapp.

Are export documents included in the co-packing price?

Usually not. BKIPM Health Certificate, COO, and any additional lab tests are billed as pass-through items per lot or per shipment. Some processors roll minor doc fees into an FOB handling line. Always ask for these as separate lines so you can compare apples to apples.

What MOQ and price breaks should I expect for retail shrimp pouches?

For the co-pack service itself, factories often want one full production day or a minimum of 1.5–3.0 metric tons finished net, depending on line schedule. For printed packaging, plan on:

Rotogravure printed pouches: 10,000–20,000 MOQ. Price breaks at 30,000 and 50,000.
Digital print pouches: 500–3,000 MOQ. Good for pilots or seasonal SKUs.
Labels: 3,000–10,000 MOQ.

Many buyers do a first run with clear pouches + labels, then switch to printed once repeats are proven.

Blast freezing vs IQF: which cost applies to shrimp?

Shrimp for retail pouches almost always runs through IQF. Blast freezing is cheaper (USD 0.03–0.06 per kg) but suits block or bulk packs. Your retail 500 g PD tail-off should budget IQF (USD 0.08–0.15 per kg) so the shrimp are free-flowing in the pouch.

Common mistakes that inflate co-pack costs

Over-spec’d packaging. A 150 μ laminated SUP with zipper looks great, but a 120 μ vacuum pouch plus a neat label often hits the value sweet spot.
Forgetting drip-loss and overpack. You end up with inconsistent fills or costly rework. Pilot runs fix this fast.
Assuming “included” documents. Then you see a stack of unplanned fees on the final invoice. Get a doc checklist up front.
Skipping X-ray where your retailer requires it. The re-pack or return costs dwarf the USD 0.02–0.05 per kg you “saved.”
Underestimating lead time for printed pouches. Cylinders and QA approvals take real time. Book packaging early.

Quick answers to the questions we get most

What’s a fair co-pack processing fee per kg in 2025?

USD 0.70–1.15 per kg finished net for PD tail-off IQF. Add USD 0.20 per kg if you require X-ray.

What add-ons should I expect?

Lab tests, BKIPM health certificate, COO, cold storage, container stuffing, and potentially fumigation. Budget USD 0.03–0.08 per pouch across these when spread over a full lot.

How much are 500 g pouches and labels now?

Printed vacuum pouches: USD 0.09–0.18. Clear pouch + label combo: USD 0.05–0.095. Master cartons: USD 0.75–1.20.

MOQs and price breaks?

Printed pouches usually 10k–20k MOQ with breaks at 30k and 50k. Digital prints 500–3k MOQ. Co-pack line minimums near 1.5–3.0 tons finished net for good rates.

Are export docs included?

Typically billed separately or as pass-through under FOB handling. Request them as distinct lines.

How do glaze and drip loss change my cost?

More glaze adds a small per-kg cost and may require overpack to hold 500 g drained net. Run a pilot to dial in the overpack and avoid giveaway.

Lead time to first production?

Packaging 3–5 weeks if printed domestically. First full production 3–4 weeks after packaging is in-house and specs are locked.

When this advice applies (and when it doesn’t)

This guide fits retail 500 g IQF PD tail-off shrimp pouches produced in Indonesia. If you’re doing breaded or cooked shrimp, or institutional 1–2 kg bags, the labor profile and packaging economics change. For raw material, species, and formats, see our Frozen Shrimp (Black Tiger, Vannamei & Wild Caught) overview and specify your exact cut and grade.

Resources and next steps

Use the plug-in formula to get an internal target per pouch. Then pressure test with a 300–500 kg pilot.
Decide label-plus-clear vs printed pouch based on MOQ and timeline. Don’t pay for cylinders before you validate your spec.
Lock your doc checklist early. Allocate lab tests per lot and decide EXW vs FOB so you’re not paying both sides.

If you want our team to turn your spec into a per-pouch service quote with current MOQs and lead times, just Contact us on whatsapp. We’ll run the numbers, flag the trade-offs, and help you avoid costly surprises before you book line time.