A steady agricultural-byproduct corridor — coconut shell charcoal (UN 1361) and activated carbon (UN 1362) are consistent volume movers from Indonesia to China, but the 2026 DG shipping rules have made "ship as general cargo" a thing of the past.
Key figures
| Item | Value |
|---|
| Coconut shell charcoal HS (ID → CN) | BTKI 4402.20.10 → China 4402200000 |
| Activated carbon HS (ID → CN) | BTKI 3802.10.10 → China 3802109000 |
| China import duty (charcoal) | MFN 6%, interim 0% (fallback); VAT 13% |
| China import duty (activated carbon) | MFN 6.5%, 0% via FORM E; VAT 13% |
| DG shipping | UN 1361 / 1362 both Class 4.2; IMDG 42-24 mandatory from 2026-01-01 |
| Load factors | 20GP 16–17 t, 40HQ 26–27 t |
Sources: WCO HS 2022 / DJBC BTKI, GACC tariff, IMDG Code 42-24. Reviewed 2026-10-29.
HS code cross-reference (Indonesia ↔ China)
| Commodity | Indonesia BTKI (8-digit) | China tariff (10-digit) |
|---|
| Coconut shell charcoal (non-activated) | 4402.20.10 (of coconut shell) | 4402200000 (shell or nut charcoal) |
| Coconut shell activated carbon | 3802.10.10 (based on coconut shell charcoal) | 3802109000 (other activated carbon) |
Classification note: HS 2022 added subheading 4402.20 "of shell or nut", moving coconut shell charcoal from the old code 4402.90.10 to 4402.20.10 — many legacy references still show the old code. Never file activated carbon as 3802101000 (wood-based); it belongs in 3802109000.
Indonesia export: licences · duties · process
| Item | Requirement |
|---|
| Export licence (ET/PE/LS) | Not required — agricultural byproduct, outside the export prohibition/restriction (lartas) list |
| SVLK timber legality | Not required (only hardwood charcoal needs SVLK) |
| DMO/DPO quota | Not applicable (strategic resources only, e.g. CPO/coal) |
| Export duty (Bea Keluar) | 0% |
| VAT (PPN) | 0% (zero-rated, input creditable) |
| Exporter registration | NIB + NPWP + NIK (customs ID); KBLI must cover export activity |
| Export filing | PEB (CEISA) → customs approval NPE → loading |
| Certificate of origin | FORM E (ACFTA) primary / FORM RCEP optional, issued via e-SKA |
Eight-step export flow: ① Obtain NIB via OSS → NPWP → NIK; ② Book DG space 3–4 weeks ahead and complete factory audit; ③ Weather for at least 14 days, material temperature < 40°C on packing day; ④ ROA/COA + SHT (UN N.4) self-heating test, vanning survey at loading; ⑤ File PEB electronically; ⑥ Customs approval NPE; ⑦ Issue FORM E / FORM RCEP via e-SKA; ⑧ Obtain B/L.
Export document checklist
| Document | Note |
|---|
| Commercial invoice + packing list | Value, Incoterms, packages, gross/net weight |
| PEB + NPE | Export declaration and gate-in approval |
| Bill of lading (B/L) | DG B/L must show UN number / class |
| FORM E / FORM RCEP | Key to China duty preference (e-SKA) |
| MSDS + DG Declaration | Required for Class 4.2 declaration |
| SHT certificate (UN N.4) | From an approved lab (Sucofindo/Carsurin/SGS etc.) |
| Vanning Certificate | Independent surveyor's stuffing certificate |
| Phytosanitary certificate | Plant-origin; required for growing-medium use |
Main loading ports
| Port | Code | Note |
|---|
| Tanjung Emas (Semarang) | ID SRG | Central Java mills; most common for charcoal |
| Tanjung Perak (Surabaya) | ID SUB | East Java main port |
| Tanjung Priok (Jakarta) | ID JKT | Largest port, most direct sailings |
Sea freight & dangerous goods (core alert)
IMDG Code Amendment 42-24 is mandatory from 2026-01-01, deleting old exemptions SP925 / SP223 and adding SP978: coconut shell charcoal (UN 1361) can no longer ship as general cargo under a UN N.4 self-heating test — it must be declared as Class 4.2 DG in FCL; LCL is prohibited.
| Item | Charcoal (non-activated) | Activated carbon |
|---|
| UN number | UN 1361 (Carbon, animal or vegetable origin) | UN 1362 (Carbon, activated) |
| Class | 4.2 (spontaneously combustible) | 4.2 |
| Packing group | PG II / III | PG II / III |
| Exemption after 2026 | None (SP978 bars N.4 exemption) | SP979 conditional (steam-activated by certificate / chemical-activated by negative test) |
SP978 five packing requirements (all mandatory)
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|
| ① Weathering | At least 14 days open-air (covered) weathering before packing |
| ② Loading temperature | Material temperature ≤ 40°C on packing / stuffing day |
| ③ UN-approved packaging | UN-approved only (e.g. 4G fibreboard box); woven bags (5H1), uncoated textile bags (5L1) and multi-wall paper bags (5M1) prohibited |
| ④ Top clearance | ≥ 30cm headspace between cargo and container roof |
| ⑤ Stack height | Package stack ≤ 1.5m (or 16m³ blocks + 15cm gap) |
Load factors & transit times
| Box / lane | Reference | Note |
|---|
| 20GP | 16–17 t | ~15% down vs pre-SP978 due to 30cm headspace |
| 40HQ | 26–27 t | Weight-limited |
| Jakarta → Shekou/Shanghai (direct) | 7–11 days | Most direct sailings, fastest |
| Semarang/Surabaya (transshipment) → China | 12–18 days | Via Singapore / Port Klang |
DG surcharge runs 15–30% above general cargo; book 3–4 weeks ahead. MSC / Maersk / CMA CGM accept UN 1361 declarations while some carriers have exited charcoal entirely — confirm per shipment. Self-ignition is "inherent vice": standard marine cargo insurance does not cover it; an HSSC add-on may help but is not guaranteed — prevention is the real safeguard.
China import: duty · regulation · qualification
| Tax | Charcoal 4402200000 | Activated carbon 3802109000 |
|---|
| MFN duty | 6% | 6.5% |
| Interim import duty | 0% (fallback) | None |
| VAT | 13% | 13% |
| FORM E (ACFTA) | 0% | 0% (verify in Single Window) |
| Combined burden | ≈13% | Without FORM E ≈20.345%; with FORM E ≈13% |
| Regulation | Requirement |
|---|
| Import licence | Not required |
| CITES | Not applicable (coconut shell is not endangered) |
| Phytosanitary | Only "growing medium" use triggers Announcement No. 210 (overseas enterprise China registration + phyto certificate declaration); industrial/fuel/water-treatment use does not |
| Importer qualification | Only customs consignee/consignor filing (foreign-trade operator registration abolished since 2022-12-30) |
Importer filing, four steps: ① Business licence scope includes "import & export of goods"; ② Customs declaration-unit filing via Single Window (10-digit customs code, with concurrent inspection & quarantine filing); ③ E-port card / shared shield; ④ Register for FX trade receipts/payments at the bank.
Risks & items to verify
| Risk | Key point |
|---|
| Classification | Charcoal = 4402200000 (not legacy 4402900090); activated carbon = 3802109000 (not 3802101000 wood-based) |
| DG concealment | From 2026, "general cargo" shipping = concealment: heavy penalty / cargo hold / return |
| Self-ignition | Standard marine cargo insurance excludes it; HSSC add-on is not a guarantee |
| Growing medium | Unregistered enterprise or soil found → return or destroy, no rectification |
| No FORM E | Activated carbon taxed at MFN 6.5% |
Items to verify manually
- Whether 3802109000 ACFTA rate is 0% — confirm by 10-digit code in the China Single Window / FTA service portal.
- 4402.20.10 / 3802.10.10 and lartas flags — verify in Indonesian Customs BTKI (beacukai.go.id) or INSW.
- Each carrier's Class 4.2 charcoal acceptance policy and DG surcharge — confirm per booking.
- Whether ≥30% moisture (wet) is a valid UN 1361 exemption — no official backing under IMDG 42-24; confirm with carrier / maritime authority.
- Whether industrial use needs a phyto certificate — subject to destination port requirements.
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