Frequently Asked Questions.

It depends on the product type. Most solid wood furniture — dining chairs, tables, case goods, outdoor pieces — carries a 0% base MFN duty rate under the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule. In addition, a 19% reciprocal tariff currently applies to Indonesian-origin goods under the bilateral US-Indonesia trade agreement, bringing the effective duty rate to approximately 19% on the FOB cargo value.

Upholstered furniture (sofas, upholstered seating) attracts an additional 25% Section 232 tariff on top of the reciprocal rate, making the effective duty position significantly higher for that category — a meaningful consideration for hospitality projects with substantial soft seating requirements.

Indonesia's position is competitive within Southeast Asia. Vietnam, the other major premium furniture-sourcing country in the region, sits at a 20% reciprocal rate — marginally higher than Indonesia's 19%. China faces effective duties of 45–50%+ when Section 301 tariffs are included, which has priced Chinese furniture out of the premium import market for most US buyers.

European manufacturers benefit from lower Section 232 tariff caps, but their factory costs are substantially higher — typically two to three times the FOB cost of a comparable Indonesian piece. The tariff advantage is absorbed by the unit cost differential. The net landed cost from Indonesia remains highly competitive for the quality tier we operate in.

Yes — the US trade policy environment is actively shifting. The reciprocal tariff framework has been subject to legal challenge and ongoing renegotiation since 2025, and rates could move in either direction over the course of a project timeline.

All project quotes include a tariff buffer to absorb minor rate movements without requiring a requote. For larger projects with longer timelines, we flag the tariff exposure clearly at the quoting stage and recommend that procurement budgets include a contingency line. We maintain a live relationship with our customs broker and update pricing assumptions when the regulatory position changes materially.

All duties and customs charges are included in the landed cost we quote to clients. We handle the import process end-to-end — freight forwarding, customs clearance, duty payment, and inland delivery to the project site or warehouse. The price you receive is the total cost delivered, with no surprise charges at the port.

Managing Indonesian customs documentation, ISF filings, Lacey Act declarations, and ISPM 15 wood packaging compliance requires experience. We handle it so your team doesn't have to.

A standard furniture shipment from Indonesia to the US west coast requires: a commercial invoice with HTS codes, a packing list, a bill of lading, a Lacey Act declaration (required for all wood products, declaring the species and country of harvest), and ISPM 15-compliant wood packaging certification confirming all timber packaging has been heat-treated.

We prepare and manage all export and import documentation as part of our service. Clients receive a full documentation package alongside their shipment for their own records and audit requirements.

The total timeline from confirmed order to delivery on the US west coast is typically 12–16 weeks: production in Indonesia takes 8–10 weeks ex-factory; sea freight from Bali or Java to Los Angeles or Long Beach takes 20–28 days; customs clearance and inland delivery adds a further 5–10 days.

For projects with hard FF&E installation dates, we recommend building a minimum 16-week buffer from order confirmation to site delivery. This absorbs the occasional production delay or port congestion without impacting the project programme.

We ship Full Container Load (FCL) wherever possible — typically a 20ft or 40ft container depending on project volume. FCL gives better unit economics, faster customs clearance, lower damage risk, and more predictable transit times than LCL (shared container) shipping.

A 20ft container accommodates approximately 25–30 CBM of furniture, covering most single-phase FF&E deliveries for a boutique hotel or restaurant project. For larger developments or phased programmes, we consolidate orders into 40ft containers to reduce the per-unit freight cost. For smaller sampling orders ahead of a full production run, LCL or consolidated shipments can be arranged.

Yes. We coordinate inland drayage from the port of entry to a nominated address — whether that is a project site, a staging warehouse, or a contractor's yard. Delivery to site is included in the landed cost quote.

For active construction sites, we recommend coordinating delivery timing with your project manager. Container deliveries require adequate access for a standard flatbed or container truck, and deliveries to restricted-access locations may carry additional charges.

Yes. We supply commercial developments across the US west coast and Mexico. The logistics and import process differ between destinations — Mexico has its own import duty and customs framework — and we manage both. Lead times to Mexican project sites are broadly comparable to the US west coast, and pricing is quoted on a project-by-project basis given the variation in delivery locations and applicable import duties.

Every price we quote is a fully landed cost — the total amount your project pays per unit, inclusive of all charges from the factory in Indonesia to your nominated delivery address. This covers the FOB factory price, international sea freight, destination port fees, customs clearance, import duties, cargo insurance, and inland drayage.

Our service fee — covering sourcing, supplier management, sampling coordination, production oversight, quality inspection, and logistics management — is built into the landed cost. There are no separate management fees, retainers, or line-item charges on top of the quoted price.

Sourcing through a US distributor typically means paying a price that already includes the importer's margin, the distributor's margin, and often a showroom markup — stacked on top of the same landed cost we quote directly. Comparable pieces through a distribution channel often cost 40–80% more than the equivalent direct-sourced price, before your firm applies its own project fee.

Beyond price, the distribution model limits you to catalogue products in standard finishes and fixed quantities. Direct sourcing through Archipelago gives access to custom specifications, bespoke finishes, and commercial quantities at pricing that makes project economics materially stronger.

Our standard FOB minimum is either 1 x 20ft container or a total order value of USD $10,000 — whichever is reached first. Most commercial FF&E projects comfortably meet this threshold.

If your order falls below both thresholds, you can still place an order — however the shipment terms become Ex-Works (EXW) rather than FOB. Under EXW terms, you would be responsible for arranging freight collection from the factory and managing the export and import process independently, or through your own freight forwarder.

Standard payment terms are 50% deposit on order confirmation to initiate production, with the balance due prior to shipment once the production inspection is complete and goods are ready to load. Formal payment terms are documented in the project proposal prior to any order being placed.

For established clients with an ongoing procurement relationship, adjusted terms can be discussed on a project basis.

Every production run includes a pre-shipment quality inspection conducted in Indonesia before goods are loaded. This covers dimensional accuracy against specification, finish and material quality, structural integrity, and packing standards for international freight. We do not release a shipment until the inspection is passed.

For new manufacturer relationships or complex bespoke briefs, we conduct mid-production check-ins to catch issues before the full run is completed. Our on-the-ground presence in Bali and established manufacturer relationships mean we can physically attend inspections — not just review documentation.

Yes. A number of our manufacturer partners hold FSC certification or source from certified sustainable forestry operations. For projects where sustainability credentials are a client or development requirement, we specify this at the briefing stage and source accordingly.

All teak and hardwood imports must comply with the US Lacey Act, which requires declaration of the wood species and country of harvest on all import documentation. We manage this compliance as standard on every shipment.

Yes — commercial durability is a core part of how we brief and specify products. We source for hospitality-grade construction: appropriate timber thickness and joinery for high-traffic use, commercial-grade outdoor finishes where applicable, and upholstery specified to contract fabric standards where relevant.

If your project has specific contract testing requirements — CAL 117, BIFMA, or similar — flag these at the briefing stage and we will specify manufacturers who can meet or provide documentation for those standards.

Yes, and we strongly recommend it. Physical samples are a standard part of the sourcing process for any new product or finish specification. We collect samples in Bali and can ship them to your office or present them in person when visiting the US west coast.

Most standard samples are available within 2–4 weeks. For bespoke prototypes with custom dimensions or finishes, the sample production timeline is typically 3–5 weeks. Sample costs are generally credited against the production order on confirmation.