Reference Guide · 参考词汇表
Indonesian Seafood & Export Trade Glossary
A practical reference for international buyers: 40+ trade, certification, and logistics terms used in Indonesian seafood and agricultural export. Use the jump links to navigate by letter.
B
B/L (Bill of Lading)
A legally binding document issued by a carrier to a shipper that serves as a receipt for the cargo, a contract of carriage, and a document of title. The B/L is one of the most critical documents in international trade; the party holding the original B/L is entitled to claim the goods at the destination port.
BKIPM
Badan Karantina Ikan, Pengendalian Mutu dan Keamanan Hasil Perikanan — Indonesia's Fish Quarantine, Quality Control, and Safety of Fishery Products Authority, under the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP). BKIPM issues the Health Certificate required for all Indonesian seafood export shipments.
Block Frozen
A freezing method where seafood is packed into rectangular molds and frozen as a solid block of product and water. Block frozen product is typically more economical than IQF for certain bulk commodities, but individual portions are not separable without thawing the entire block. Common for shrimp and squid sold to processors.
BRC (British Retail Consortium) Grade A
The BRC Global Standard for Food Safety is a certification scheme widely required by UK supermarkets and increasingly adopted by EU, North American, and Australian retail chains. The grading scale runs AA (highest) to D. Grade A means no major non-conformances were found in the audit. TaMainco holds BRC Grade A for its Surabaya processing facility.
C
C&F / CFR (Cost and Freight)
An Incoterm where the seller pays the cost of goods and ocean freight to the named destination port, but the buyer assumes risk from the moment cargo is loaded on the vessel. The buyer is responsible for arranging and paying for insurance.
Catch Certificate
A document required by the EU (under IUU Regulation EC 1005/2008) that verifies the fish in a shipment was legally harvested in compliance with the fishery management rules of the flag state. For Indonesian seafood exported to the EU, catch certificates are issued by BKIPM.
CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight)
An Incoterm where the seller is responsible for the cost of goods, ocean freight, and insurance to the named destination port. Risk transfers to the buyer when the cargo is loaded aboard the vessel. CIF pricing is typically 5–10% higher than FOB to cover freight and insurance costs.
Cold Chain
The unbroken sequence of refrigerated production, storage, and distribution activities that maintain a specified temperature range for perishable products from harvest through to the final consumer. For frozen seafood, the cold chain requires -18°C or below at all stages; for fresh-chilled, 0–2°C. Breaks in the cold chain cause irreversible quality degradation.
D
D/P (Documents against Payment)
A payment method in international trade where the exporter instructs their bank to release shipping documents to the buyer only upon payment. Unlike a Letter of Credit, D/P does not involve bank guarantees and carries more risk for the exporter if the buyer refuses to pay.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
An Incoterm where the seller is responsible for all costs and risks involved in delivering goods to the named destination, including import duties and taxes. DDP represents the maximum obligation for the seller and is uncommon in seafood and agricultural commodity trade.
DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid)
A legacy Incoterm (replaced by DAP in Incoterms 2010) meaning the seller delivers goods to the named destination but does not pay import duties or taxes. The buyer is responsible for customs clearance and duty payment upon arrival.
E
ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival)
The predicted date and time a vessel or shipment will arrive at the destination port. ETAs are provided by shipping lines and forwarders and are used by buyers to coordinate port clearance, cold storage reception, and distribution logistics.
ETD (Estimated Time of Departure)
The predicted date and time a vessel will depart from the origin port. ETD is used by exporters and buyers to calculate ETA and coordinate export documentation submission deadlines.
F
FAS (Free Alongside Ship)
An Incoterm where the seller delivers goods alongside the vessel at the named port of shipment. The buyer then bears all costs and risks of loss or damage from that point, including loading and ocean freight. Rarely used for containerized seafood shipments.
FCA (Free Carrier)
An Incoterm where the seller delivers goods to the named carrier (or another party nominated by the buyer) at a designated place. Risk transfers to the buyer at the moment of delivery to the carrier. FCA is commonly used for containerized shipments.
FCL (Full Container Load)
A shipping term meaning the cargo occupies an entire container, either a 20-foot (20ft, approx. 20 MT capacity for seafood) or 40-foot (40ft, approx. 25–26 MT for reefer). FCL is the standard unit for most frozen seafood export orders and is more cost-effective per kilogram than LCL for large volumes.
FOB (Free on Board)
An Incoterm where the seller is responsible for all costs and risks until the goods are loaded on board the vessel at the named port of shipment. From that point, the buyer assumes all risk and cost. FOB Surabaya is the standard quotation basis for Indonesian seafood exports from TaMainco.
G
GACC (General Administration of Customs, China)
China's customs authority responsible for regulating all imports into China, including seafood and agricultural products. Since January 2022, all Indonesian seafood exporting facilities must be registered in GACC's approved facility database before their products can be exported to China. Unregistered facilities cannot legally ship to China.
GI (Geographical Indication)
A sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or reputation attributed to that origin. Indonesian GI products include Lampung Black Pepper, Maluku Cloves, Gayo Coffee, and Kintamani Coffee — these GI certifications can support premium pricing in specialty markets.
H
H&G (Headed & Gutted)
A processing form where the fish has had its head removed and internal organs (guts) removed, but the tail and fins remain. H&G fish are typically scaled but can be sold whole or with fins on. This is a common processing form for grouper, mackerel, and snapper for export.
HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points)
A systematic preventive approach to food safety that identifies physical, chemical, and biological hazards in production processes and designs measurements to reduce these hazards to a safe level. HACCP certification from Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs (KKP) is mandatory for all Indonesian seafood export processing facilities.
Halal MUI
Halal certification issued by Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) through its certification arm LPPOM MUI. Halal MUI certification is required for seafood and food exports to Muslim-majority countries (Malaysia, Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, Central Asia). The certification covers processing methods, ingredients, and cross-contamination prevention. Verify certificates at halalmui.org.
HOSO (Head-On Shell-On)
A shrimp processing form where the shrimp is sold with both head and shell intact. HOSO is common in Asian wet markets and restaurant supply chains where freshness presentation and head fat content are valued. HOSO shrimp typically have a higher water loss during cooking than headless forms.
HS Code (Harmonized System Code)
A standardized numerical method of classifying traded products, maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO). HS codes determine the import tariff rate and other trade policy measures applied to a product at the destination. Key codes for Indonesian seafood: Grouper 0302.19, Frozen Shrimp 0306.17, Squid 0307.43, Cloves 0907.10, Black Pepper 0904.11.
I
IQF (Individually Quick Frozen)
A freezing method where individual pieces of seafood are frozen separately, typically using a blast tunnel or plate freezer, before being packed together. IQF products allow individual portions to be removed without thawing the entire package, making them preferred for foodservice and retail applications. IQF achieves -18°C core temperature within 30 minutes.
IUU (Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated fishing)
A term covering all types of fishing that violates national or international fishery laws. The EU IUU Regulation (EC 1005/2008) requires catch certificates for all seafood imported into the EU to prove it was legally harvested. Indonesia has worked to improve its IUU compliance record and is no longer on the EU's IUU yellow card list.
L
LC (Letter of Credit)
A financial instrument issued by a bank on behalf of the buyer (importer) guaranteeing payment to the seller (exporter) upon presentation of specified documents. LC at sight means payment is made immediately upon document presentation. LC provides more security for the exporter than T/T or D/P. Standard for orders above 5–10 MT from TaMainco.
LCL (Less than Container Load)
A shipping arrangement where multiple small shipments from different shippers are consolidated into a single container. LCL is suitable for buyers whose order volume does not fill an entire container. For frozen seafood, LCL adds complexity due to cold chain handling requirements at consolidation points.
Lead Time
The time between placing a purchase order and receiving the goods at the destination. For ready-stock frozen seafood from TaMainco: 7–14 days after PO confirmation. For made-to-order (indent) products: 21–45 days. Lead times for agricultural commodities (spices, coffee) vary by season and crop availability.
M
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)
The minimum quantity a supplier will accept for a single order. MOQ varies by product type, processing form, and packaging requirements. At TaMainco: Mud Crab 100 kg, fresh-chilled fish 500 kg, IQF frozen fish 1–3 MT, Vannamei Shrimp 1 FCL (approx. 20 MT). Buyers can often combine multiple products to meet a container MOQ.
MSC (Marine Stewardship Council)
An international non-profit organization that sets a standard for sustainable fishing. MSC certification (the blue fish label) is increasingly required by European supermarkets, institutional buyers with sustainability mandates, and eco-conscious consumers. MSC Chain of Custody certification must cover the entire supply chain from certified fishery to consumer sale.
O
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
In the seafood and food industry, OEM refers to manufacturing products under a buyer's private label or brand name. TaMainco offers OEM services for processed products (squid rings, shrimp, fillets) with buyer-specified packaging design, brand printing, and portion sizes. Typical OEM MOQ: 2 MT per SKU.
Origin Certificate
A document certifying the country of origin of the exported goods. For Indonesian seafood, the Certificate of Origin (Form D for ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, Form E for ASEAN-China FTA) is issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Trade and enables preferential tariff rates for qualifying destination countries.
P
PD (Peeled & Deveined)
A shrimp processing form where the shell has been removed and the digestive tract (vein) has been cleaned out. PD shrimp is one of the most widely consumed processed shrimp forms globally, suitable for both retail and foodservice. Available in IQF and block frozen formats.
PDTO (Peeled, Deveined, Tail-On)
A shrimp processing form where the shell is removed and vein cleaned, but the tail shell is retained for presentation. PDTO is the premium retail and restaurant format, as the tail provides a visual handle for breaded and fried applications and an attractive presentation for cocktail shrimp.
Phytosanitary Certificate
An official document issued by a country's plant protection authority certifying that plants or plant products comply with the phytosanitary regulations of the importing country. Required for all agricultural commodity exports including dried seaweed, spices, and coffee beans from Indonesia.
PUD (Peeled, Undeveined)
A shrimp processing form where only the shell is removed but the digestive tract (vein) is left intact. PUD is a lower-cost alternative to PD, commonly used in mass market foodservice applications where vein removal is done at the cooking stage.
R
RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed)
An EU-wide notification system that allows rapid exchange of information between EU member states when a risk to human health is identified in the food or feed chain. Indonesian seafood has historically appeared in RASFF notifications for antibiotic residues (chloramphenicol, nitrofurans) and heavy metals. Buyers should review RASFF alerts for Indonesian seafood before sourcing.
Reefer Container
A refrigerated shipping container that maintains a controlled temperature throughout ocean transit. Used for all frozen seafood shipments (-18°C standard setting) and fresh-chilled products (0–2°C). Standard reefer containers are 20ft or 40ft; the 20ft reefer holds approximately 20 MT of frozen seafood depending on density.
S
SKA (Surat Keterangan Asal / Certificate of Origin)
The Indonesian term for Certificate of Origin. SKA is issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Trade for export shipments and is required to claim preferential tariff rates under ASEAN Free Trade Agreements (Form D), ASEAN-China FTA (Form E), and other bilateral agreements.
Skinless
A product specification indicating that the skin has been removed from the fish fillet or portion. Skinless fillets are preferred in European retail markets where skin is not commonly consumed, and in foodservice applications where consistent portion appearance is required.
Skin-On
A product specification where the skin is retained on the fillet or fish portion. Skin-on fillets are preferred by restaurant chefs for their improved flavor during cooking (skin adds fat and collagen), better structural integrity, and attractive presentation when pan-seared.
SNI (Standar Nasional Indonesia)
Indonesia's national quality and safety standards, established by BSN (Badan Standardisasi Nasional). SNI standards cover seafood products (moisture content, contamination limits, labeling) and agricultural commodities. Some product categories carry mandatory SNI certification for export.
T
T/T (Telegraphic Transfer)
The most common payment method for Indonesian seafood and agricultural export trade. For new buyers, standard T/T terms are 30% advance payment upon PO confirmation plus 70% before Bill of Lading release. For established buyers, terms improve to 100% against documents or net 30 from B/L date.
TL (Truckload)
Refers to a full truckload of product, used in domestic distribution logistics. In the context of Indonesian seafood export, TL typically refers to refrigerated truck transport from the processing facility to the port, maintaining cold chain integrity during the inland leg of the export journey.
W
WCO (World Customs Organization)
An intergovernmental organization focused on customs administration and trade facilitation. The WCO maintains the Harmonized System (HS) nomenclature used worldwide to classify traded products for tariff and statistical purposes.
WR (Whole Round)
A product specification indicating unprocessed fish in its entirety — not headed, not gutted, not cleaned. Whole Round is the most economical processing form and is typically sold to buyers with their own processing capacity. Also written as "whole" or "round weight" in trade documentation.
WTO (World Trade Organization)
The international body that deals with the rules of trade between nations. WTO rules govern tariff schedules (through the Most Favored Nation principle), trade dispute resolution, and the trade-related aspects of sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS Agreement) — all relevant to Indonesian seafood and spice exporters.
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