Indonesia Export to Africa: Selling Beyond Palm Oil (2026)

Palm oil is the product most people link with Indonesia, but African buyers also purchase food and drinks, footwear, textiles, paper and automotive products. This guide to Indonesia export to Africa is for Indonesian manufacturers that want to sell finished goods to African wholesalers and distributors. It covers what the Ministry of Trade says about Indonesia-Africa trade, the export customs declaration, the Indonesian support bodies, and how to start with a verified Comilmart profile.

Indonesia export to Africa: what the Ministry of Trade reports

In a press release dated 28 September 2026 about a trade-promotion training programme for African officials, Indonesia's Ministry of Trade said total Indonesia-Africa trade reached US$13.7 billion in 2023. It added that business deals worth US$3.5 billion were recorded at the Indonesia-Africa Forum in Bali in 2024, compared with US$568 million at the first forum in 2018. The release says Indonesian goods already sold in African markets include food products, footwear, textiles and textile products, paper and automotive products. It also names ITPC Johannesburg, ITPC Lagos and the Trade Attaché in Cairo among Indonesia's trade representatives in Africa. The release is on the Ministry of Trade website in Indonesian.

The release does not rank products or countries, so use it as proof that finished consumer and industrial goods are moving, not as a market league table.

Beyond palm oil: premium processed goods

On 6 August 2026, ANTARA reported that Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri called Central Asia and Africa major markets Indonesia must optimise, and cited snake fruit (salak), tropical fruits, coffee and chocolate as products that could be processed and packaged as premium exports. The report gave no African export figures. Read it at ANTARA. For a manufacturer, the practical message is to sell packaged, labelled, shelf-stable goods in the pack sizes African wholesalers use, not bulk commodities. Our guide to labelling and packaging for African markets shows the details buyers check.

Indonesia export to Africa: the customs declaration

Indonesia's customs service explains the export declaration on its office pages. One page, from the Ngurah Rai customs office, says the Export Customs Notification (PEB) is the declaration an exporter files with the loading customs office, and that supporting documents include the invoice and packing list, proof of export duty payment where duty applies, and a document from the relevant technical agency if the goods are prohibited or restricted. It says the PEB can be submitted electronically and that customs registration is done online through the OSS system, requiring a tax ID (NPWP), a valid tax status letter and an EFIN. Timing rules apply to when the PEB must be filed, so read the customs page in full or ask your forwarder. This is as of October 2026 and rules change, so confirm with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise before shipping.

Many importers also ask for a certificate of origin. We did not read the official certificate pages for this guide, so ask your forwarder or the Ministry of Trade which form your buyer's customs accepts and who issues it.

Export financing and support in Indonesia

Indonesia Eximbank, known as LPEI, describes itself on its website as a financial institution under the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, established in 2009. It says it supports exporters through financing, guarantees, insurance and consulting services. The page does not mention Africa, and we have not read eligibility, limits or pricing, so contact LPEI directly if you want cover for an African buyer.

The Ministry of Trade's ITPC network in Johannesburg and Lagos and its trade attaché in Cairo are worth contacting for market information and introductions. Ask them what services are available to your product category.

Which African markets to try first

Choose the first market by where you already have an enquiry. The Ministry of Trade release points to South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt only through the location of its trade offices, so it is not a ranking. Our guides to selling in Nigeria and selling in Kenya explain the checks a foreign manufacturer faces in each.

Routes and pricing

Ask your forwarder about direct sailings versus transhipment from your nearest Indonesian port, and put the Incoterm on every quote. Our guide to FOB, CIF and DDP shows what each term means for the buyer's cost. Footwear, textiles and paper are bulky for their value, so container fill matters when you set MOQ tiers.

Selling through Comilmart

Comilmart is a B2B and B2C marketplace for Africa. Suppliers list products with MOQs and tiered pricing, and buyers submit requests at /request-quotation. Approved suppliers browse open requests on their RFQ board and respond with a quotation, or chat directly with the buyer. Sample orders and live chat are available, and buyer protection holds payment until delivery is confirmed within a 7-day window. You arrange and pay for shipping; Comilmart does not handle freight, customs clearance, duties or delivery. It cannot promise buyers, orders or prices. Ask about supplier payment methods and currencies through live chat or /contact-us.

Frequently asked questions

How big is Indonesia-Africa trade? The Ministry of Trade said total trade reached US$13.7 billion in 2023.

What does Indonesia export to Africa besides palm oil? The ministry lists food products, footwear, textiles and textile products, paper and automotive products.

Do I need the PEB declaration? Indonesian customs describes the PEB as the export declaration. Your forwarder or customs broker normally prepares it.

Can an Indonesian company apply to Comilmart? Yes. It is free to apply and any country is accepted.

Does Comilmart handle shipping? No. The seller arranges and pays for shipping.

Getting started

To move Indonesia export to Africa beyond commodities, go to /sell-to-africa and apply at /apply-manufacturer. The form asks for your company registration number, tax number, a business licence upload, a registration certificate upload, at least two sample product images, your company mission, vision and core values, and at least one B2B category. Applying is free, an Indonesian address is accepted, and the form states admin review takes about 24 to 48 hours. Plans cost $0 (Standard), $99 (Starter), $300 (Verified) or $800 (Verified Pro) per year.