Indonesian Seafood MOQ & Lead Times: 2026 Buyer Guide

A first-order playbook for IQF vannamei shrimp from Indonesia. Realistic MOQs, packaging print timelines, 20’/40’ reefer math, and a week-by-week path from PO to vessel so small and mid-size buyers can set a ship date with confidence.

We’ve taken first orders from “interested” to FOB Surabaya in 21–28 days. When you need Indonesian vannamei shrimp now, vague MOQs and sliding lead times are the enemy. This is the playbook we use in 2026 for P&D 26/30, 1 kg IVP/IQF bags.

The 3 pillars of hitting MOQ and predictable lead times in 2026

1. Choose the right MOQ path for your size and speed.

• Factory MOQ. Fastest unit cost and best control. You’ll commit to 1 FCL and per-SKU minimums.
• Mixed-SKU consolidation at one factory. Good for breadth without killing working capital.
• LCL trial. The smallest cash risk, but slower and riskier logistically.

2. Lock specs once. Revisions kill weeks. Your “frozen shrimp MOQ” is really the sum of: species, size (e.g., P&D 26/30), glaze percent, bag format, master carton, microbiology limits, and labeling.

3. Get packaging right on day one. Private-label film is the hidden lead-time driver. Plain bag + sticker can save a month on a first shipment.

If you need a quick view of what we produce, see our Frozen Shrimp (Black Tiger, Vannamei & Wild Caught).

Week 1–2: Spec lock and validation

Here’s the thing. Most delays happen before you send the PO.

• Finalize a single working spec: Vannamei, P&D 26/30, IQF, 1 kg IVP, 10 x 1 kg per master, 10% glaze, CO-treated or not, microbiology limits (TPC/E. coli/Salmonella), label language, and carton print. Add “±5% size tolerance blended” to avoid slow regrading, which I’ve found saves 2–3 days.
• Packaging plan: Choose one of three for speed.
  • Plain pack: Generic bag + product label. Zero print time. Best for trials.
  • Semi-private label: Unprinted transparent bag + high-quality sticker. 3–5 days to approve.
  • Fully printed 1 kg bags: Best for retail. Printing is the pacing item.
• Vessel lane and cutoff: Ask for a target ETD ex Surabaya or Jakarta. Reefer CY cutoff is typically 48–72 hours pre-ETD. Align your timeline to that cut.
• PO & deposit: Once specs are frozen, issue PO and send deposit within 24–48 hours. Production calendars move quickly on shrimp. Waiting a week can push you behind another buyer.

Takeaway: Don’t finalize packaging after the PO. Approve it first or go plain pack on shipment one and print for shipment two.

Week 3–6: Production, QA, booking, and load

For plain pack or re-order film, 21–28 days PO-to-ETD is realistic on FOB Surabaya shrimp.

• Raw material allocation: 2–4 days. Farms are steady, but sudden size shifts happen. Allow a 26/30 and 31/40 blend tolerance if timing is critical.
• Processing and freezing: 3–6 days for P&D vs. 2–4 days for HLSO. P&D takes longer because of peel labor and grading.
• QA + micro release: 2–3 days. Pre-agree test panel so labs don’t redo.
• Cartonization and pallet plan: 1–2 days. If your destination requires pallets, confirm pallet type early. Floor load maximizes capacity but changes unloading at destination.
• Vessel booking and docs: 4–7 days. Health certificate and Phyto typically 1–2 business days after final pack. Commercial docs follow in parallel.

If you’re printing private-label bags, add 2–4 weeks up front for film.

Week 7–12: Scale and optimize

Your first orders teach you what you really sell through. We recommend buyers do three things after shipment one.

• Pre-stage printed film at factory. You’ll cut 10–14 days on every repeat.
• Move to mixed-SKU FCL. Split 21/25, 26/30, 31/40 by 1–2 MT lots per size. Your working capital stays sane, and your customers get choice.
• Standardize release specs. One microbiology and label template for all SKUs keeps velocity high.

The 3 realistic MOQ paths (choose one)

1. Factory MOQ (fastest unit cost)

• Typical per-SKU run: 2–5 MT for P&D 26/30.
• Container-level ask: 1 x 20’ FCL minimum across SKUs if you want factory calendar priority.
• Good for: Price-sensitive buyers with forecastable volumes.

2. Mixed-SKU consolidation within one factory

• MOQ per SKU: 1–2 MT per size. Total to fill 20’ or 40’.
• Good for: New markets and multi-channel distributors. Allows 21/25 + 26/30 + 31/40 in one sailing.

3. LCL trial (smallest risk, slowest)

• Size: 1–3 pallets (roughly 1–3 MT). Expect higher per-kg logistics and extra cold store handling at both ends.
• Use cases: Market probes or regulatory testing. Not great for speed or cost.

Need help choosing a path or building a mixed-SKU plan? Share your forecast and target ETD and we’ll map the fastest option. If that’s useful, Contact us on whatsapp.

Container math that actually matters

Carton and bag math should drive your MOQ, not the other way around. For 1 kg bags packed 10 x 1 kg per master carton:

• 20’ reefer. Expect roughly 1,000–1,150 master cartons if floor loaded. That’s 10,000–11,500 retail bags, about 10–11.5 MT net. Real number depends on carton dimensions and dunnage.
• 40’ HC reefer. Roughly 2,400–2,700 master cartons. That’s 24,000–27,000 bags, around 24–27 MT net.

Practical tip: Ask for pack plans in bag counts and carton counts. Rounding to full pallets and even layers avoids space wasted at loading, which I’ve seen save 0.5–1 MT of capacity.

FAQs buyers actually ask (quick, straight answers)

What’s the smallest first order processors accept for Indonesian vannamei shrimp?

• Plain pack: 1–2 MT per SKU if part of an FCL.
• Private label: Usually 1 FCL total with 2–3 MT per SKU to justify a print run. Truly tiny first orders are best done LCL with plain pack.

How many 1 kg IQF bags fit in a 20-foot reefer?

• About 10,000–11,500 bags if packed 10 x 1 kg per carton and floor-loaded. Always confirm with your exact carton size.

Can I combine sizes to hit MOQ with one factory?

• Yes. A common split is 26/30 + 31/40 + 21/25, 1–2 MT each, to a full 20’ or 40’. Keep identical bag art per SKU and just change the size window on the label to avoid multiple print cylinders.

How long does private-label bag printing take in Indonesia?

• First run: 4–6 weeks. Artwork approval 2–5 days. Cylinder/graver 7–10 days. Print and cure 10–14 days. Delivery to plant 3–5 days. Printer MOQs are often 5,000–10,000 bags per design per size.
• Reprint: 2–3 weeks if cylinders exist.

What’s the realistic PO-to-vessel timeline in 2026?

• Plain pack or reprint film: 18–28 days to ETD from PO for P&D 26/30 on FOB Surabaya.
• First-time private label: 5–7 weeks, driven by film printing.

Is LCL practical for frozen shrimp from Indonesia?

• It’s possible but slower. Expect additional cold store handling, more chance of customs inspections at destination, and variable transshipment. Lead times extend 1–2 weeks vs FCL and per-kg cost is higher. We use LCL only for market tests.

Do Ramadan/Eid or port congestion change lead times?

• Around Ramadan/Eid, factories and trucking slow for 3–7 days and port cutoffs shift. Book earlier and avoid weekend cutoffs. We add a 1–2 week buffer in March–April windows and watch Surabaya and Jakarta reefer equipment availability.

HLSO vs P&D lead time — which is faster?

• HLSO is faster by 1–2 days. P&D adds peel and grading steps. If speed is everything on a trial, go HLSO or PD tail-on first, then roll to full P&D.

The 5 mistakes that kill shrimp timelines (and easy fixes)

• Starting artwork after the PO. Fix: Approve packaging before you place the order, or go plain pack on shipment one.
• Over-specifying size with zero tolerance. Fix: Allow ±5% size blend to keep pack-out moving.
• Booking too late. Fix: Secure a reefer slot and equipment 10–14 days before ETD. Surabaya cutoffs move fast in peak weeks.
• Treating micro specs as an afterthought. Fix: Share your COA template at quote stage to align test panels and avoid retests.
• Chasing pennies across multiple factories. Fix: Consolidate SKUs in one plant. You’ll save weeks and reduce mismatch risk on labels and cartons.

Resources and next steps

If you’re mapping a first order for P&D 26/30, 1 kg IVP bags, pick your MOQ path, confirm carton dimensions, and back into a ship date from your target ETD. Want a ready-to-use spec template or a mixed-SKU pack plan sized to a 20’ or 40’ reefer? Share your market and deadlines and we’ll send a draft within a day. If that would help, Contact us on whatsapp. Or browse related SKUs here: View our products.

In our experience, buyers who decide on a single MOQ path and lock packaging early ship faster and with fewer surprises. That’s how you go from inquiry to loaded container on time, every time.