Export — Indonesian Clay Bricks & Terracotta | Omah Genteng

This page is written for UK importers, builders’ merchants and facade contractors who already buy clay bricks and want a second source for two specific products: full-body brick cladding and thin brick slips. Both are fired clay, made in Indonesia, packed on pallets, and loaded at Tanjung Emas, Semarang.

Minimum order: 1 × 20’ FCL — mixed items and sizes accepted, so you can load different blocks in the same container.

Summary: two export-ready Indonesian clay products — brick cladding 24×12×5.5 cm (±8,400 pcs per 20ft, ±270 m²) and brick slips 23×7×1.5 cm (±55,000 pcs per 20ft, ±935 m²). The UK imported about US$290 million of building bricks in 2024 while exporting only US$13.7 million. Prices are quoted FOB Semarang per order; no prices are published.

Brick cladding — 24 × 12 × 5.5 cm

Brick slips — 23 × 7 × 1.5 cm

Why a UK importer should look at Indonesia now

The UK is a structural net importer of clay building bricks. In 2024 the country imported about US$290 million of building bricks (HS 6904.10) and exported only US$13.7 million — a net deficit of roughly US$276 million (OEC bilateral trade data, 2024). Domestic production does not cover demand, which is exactly why UK merchants routinely add suppliers from outside Europe.

The segment we supply is growing too. The global thin brick market was estimated at US$1.88 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach US$2.75 billion by 2033, a CAGR of about 5.6% (Coherent Market Insights). That growth is driven by refurbishment rather than new-build — and refurbishment is where slips earn their place, because they can be applied to walls that are already standing.

UK market indicator	Figure	Source
UK imports of building bricks, 2024	±US$290 million	OEC bilateral trade data
UK exports of building bricks, 2024	±US$13.7 million	OEC bilateral trade data
UK net position	Importer, ±US$276 million	Derived from the two figures above
Global thin brick market, 2026	±US$1.88 billion	Coherent Market Insights
Projected market, 2033	±US$2.75 billion (CAGR 5.6%)	Coherent Market Insights

Two products, one container decision

The two products answer different questions. Cladding bricks give a full-body brick face with solid corners and reveals. Slips give the same visual result with a fraction of the weight, which matters on timber frame, thin panels and refurbished partitions.

Product	Size (cm)	Coverage	Weight	One 20ft container	Page
Brick cladding full-body clay	24 × 12 × 5.5	±31 pcs/m²	±88 kg/m²	±8,400 pcs · ±270 m²	Details
Brick slips thin cut clay	23 × 7 × 1.5	±59 pcs/m²	±26 kg/m²	±55,000 pcs · ±935 m²	Details

The commercial difference is freight. In the same 20ft container, slips deliver about 935 m² against roughly 270 m² for cladding bricks — three and a half times the wall area. That is the number to put next to the price per square metre: what looks cheaper per piece is not always cheaper per metre of finished wall.

How the numbers were calculated

We publish the assumptions rather than asking you to trust a figure. Recalculate them yourself before you compare suppliers — the arithmetic is the same one used when freight is quoted.

• Clay density 1.8 t/m³
• Joint width: 10 mm for cladding bricks, 3 mm for slips
• Practical container volume: 28 m³ (20ft), 60 m³ (40ft)
• Road payload limits: 24 t (20ft), 27 t (40ft)
• Packing efficiency: 85%

Because both products are dense, weight is the binding constraint long before volume is. On cladding bricks roughly half the container volume travels empty — that is normal for full-body brick, and it is why slips are the volume product.

How ordering works

Step	What happens	Typical duration
1. Sample box	We send a box of both products so you can check colour, thickness and edge	Courier, buyer pays freight
2. Pallet trial	One pallet to your yard or first job, to test handling and fixing	Once colour is agreed
3. 20ft container	Full container, packing plan issued before stuffing	Confirmed per booking
4. Repeat order	Same specification, scheduled against the kiln	Ongoing

Nothing in that sequence requires a visit to Indonesia. Buyers normally start from photographs, a sample box and a specification sheet, then commit to a container once the colour and packing are agreed.

Shipping and documents

Goods are loaded at Tanjung Emas, Semarang, and shipped FOB. Sea transit to a UK port is typically in the region of five weeks, but routing and carrier schedules vary — we confirm dates per booking rather than promising a fixed transit time. Every shipment leaves with a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and specification sheet; your broker handles UK import clearance and VAT.

Duty depends on the exact HS line and on how your broker classifies the goods. We state the HS heading on every document (6904 for ceramic building bricks, 6907 for ceramic tiles) and expect your customs broker to confirm the rate before you commit to a landed-cost calculation.

What we claim, and what we do not

We supply a specification sheet and can provide available test data on request. If your project specifies a particular clay masonry standard, tell us before the quotation and we will confirm exactly which documents we can supply. We do not print a certification mark we have not earned — an importer who checks will find the claim empty, and that is not a basis for a repeat order.

Order terms

Item	Term
Price basis	FOB Semarang, quoted per order — no prices are published
Payment	50% deposit on order confirmation, balance before shipment
Documents	Specification sheet, packing plan, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading
Port of loading	Tanjung Emas, Semarang, Indonesia
Samples	Sample box available; freight at buyer’s cost

Frequently asked questions

Can a UK importer buy from Indonesia directly?

Yes. We ship FOB from Tanjung Emas, Semarang, and work with the buyer's freight forwarder or our own. The buyer handles UK import clearance and VAT; we supply the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and specification sheet needed for that.

What is the minimum order for a first shipment?

A single pallet for a trial, then one 20ft container for volume pricing. Most importers start with a sample box, move to a pallet, and place a container order once colour and packing are confirmed.

How long does production and shipping take?

Production is scheduled against the kiln and confirmed in the quotation. Sea transit from Semarang to a UK port is typically in the region of five weeks, but it varies by carrier and routing — we confirm the dates per booking rather than promising a fixed number.

Which product suits a UK refurbishment project?

Brick slips, 23 x 7 x 1.5 cm, because they add only about 26 kg per square metre and can be fixed to existing walls. Cladding bricks, 24 x 12 x 5.5 cm, are used where a full-body brick face is wanted and the wall can carry about 88 kg per square metre.

Do you provide test data or declarations?

We provide the specification sheet and can supply available test data on request. If your project specifies a particular clay masonry standard, tell us before the quotation and we confirm exactly which documents we can provide — we do not claim certifications we do not hold.

What are the payment terms?

50% deposit on order confirmation and the balance before shipment. Terms are stated in the proforma invoice for each order.

Request an FOB quotation

Tell us the quantity, the destination port, and whether your project needs cladding bricks or slips. We reply with an FOB Semarang quotation, a packing plan and lead time — usually within one working day.

Chat on WhatsApp Email our export desk

WhatsApp +62-81-2283-3040 · order@omah-genteng.com · Mon–Sat, 09.00–21.00 WIB (GMT+7)

Related pages

Brick cladding — 24×12×5.5 cm
Brick slips — 23×7×1.5 cm
Full product catalogue (Indonesian)

Buying from the UK? See ventilation blocks for the UK market — concrete and terracotta, 20×20×10 cm, FOB Semarang.