Direct to China: Indonesia’s Durian Export Strategy

According to Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency, the country’s durian production reached nearly 2 million metric tons in 2024, marking a five-year high. Of this, only 600 metric tons were exported, bringing in approximately $1.8 million, with Thailand and Hong Kong as the primary destinations. This relatively small export volume highlights the challenges that Indonesia is facing in reaching overseas markets, particularly China, which is the world’s largest consumer of durians.

Logistics and market access remain major obstacles for fresh durian exports. Transporting fresh durians from Indonesia currently takes longer than shipping from Thailand, affecting quality and shelf life. Establishing direct shipping routes from the Port of Pantoloan in Central Sulawesi to China could reduce the transit time to about one week and cut transportation costs by up to 50%, making Indonesian durians more competitive.

Earlier in 2025, Indonesia received approval to export frozen durians to China. As part of this process, China’s General Administration of Customs conducted inspections of Indonesian durian plantations and packing facilities to ensure compliance with import standards. While frozen durians can endure longer shipping times, the main commercial opportunity lies in exporting fresh durians, which command higher prices and are in greater demand in China.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono has emphasized Indonesia’s efforts to pursue direct exports of fresh durians to China. In a recent meeting with his Chinese counterpart, discussions focused on bypassing traditional transshipment channels through Thailand and Malaysia, which currently handle most Indonesian durians bound for China. At present, the indirect route leaves Indonesia with only about 10% of the profit margin. Direct exports could increase profits to as much as 30%.

Expanding direct exports is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Indonesia’s agricultural trade and improve national profit margins. By leveraging the quality and freshness of its tropical fruits, Indonesia hopes to secure a larger share of China’s durian market and lay the groundwork for future exports of other agricultural products.

Image: Pixabay

This article was based on a Chinese article. Read the original article.