Carbon steel pipe fitting exported to Indonesia

Recently our company finished a export of carbon steel pipe fitting to Indonesia. Indonesia custom has some special stipulation for import formalities.
From December to march each year, Indonesia's red light clearance period. Indonesian customs will cooperate with other law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation of import declarations.Customs clearance procedures require more procedures than before, and in a longer period of time, if the operation is not appropriate, there will be more costs.The following is an introduction from the aspects of red light period, Indonesian import management, import license system, customs system, customs clearance guidelines and countermeasures.
 
What is red light period?
In Indonesia, customs are divided into Red Light Customs and Green Light Customs. If a certain export goods is red lighted in Indonesian customs, the customs will pay more attention to protecting the local enterprises that produce the goods. When export enterprises export goods to Indonesia, they will encounter stricter customs measures.
From December to march each year, Indonesia's red light clearance period. Indonesian customs will cooperate with other law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation of import declarations.Customs clearance procedures require more procedures than before, and in a longer period of time, if the operation is not appropriate, there will be more costs. 
 
What are the coping strategy during red light period?
1. For different categories of goods (each country may have different import requirements for different categories -- tariff & non-tariff threshold) and quantity, the cargo information should be made clear before shipment. Please be sure to communicate with local merchants in Indonesia about the latest policies of local customs and whether the products will encounter customs clearance obstacles. If necessary, also combine with the strength of the destination port agent and customs relations of the container requirements for packing.
2. If Indonesian merchants do not have corresponding import rights, or have import rights but have relatively low qualifications, it is generally easier to be checked (obtaining import license API or even applying Master List does not mean that they can clear customs without obstacles).Therefore, DDP operation can be adopted, that is, some qualified import agent to complete customs clearance.
3. Whether it is DDP or DDU operation, it is recommended to apply to the shipping company for 14 days free time of cabin when booking the space, so that if the clearance time is longer than usual, the container rent will not be generated or reduced.  
 
The management of Indonesia import.
The Indonesia government mainly adopts two forms, quota and license in the implementation of import management.
The quota management is mainly applicable to alcoholic beverages and direct raw materials containing alcohol, and the import quota is only issued to approved domestic enterprises.
The ministry of trade of Indonesia is responsible for the import of the country's products and for enforcing regulations related to import licensing requirements.According to the most basic requirements, to import products in Indonesia, the required documents must be submitted and verified by the general administration of customs, and the products may be subject to inspection.In addition, the importer shall fill in the import declaration form for all imported products and report to the customs.Importers are also required to obtain customs identifiers (NIK) from the general administration of customs for compliance with customs regulations;An import licence (API) may also be obtained from the ministry of trade or the investment and manpower bureau (BKPM).