Arya News - Until now, Chinese consumers have largely relied on supplies from neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
JAKARTA – Indonesia has launched its first direct export of frozen durian to China, shipping 48 tonnes of the commodity worth Rp 5.1 billion (US$305,000) on Monday.
The frozen durian products, processed in West Java, were shipped from Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta and are bound for Qingdao Port in China.
“This marks the culmination of a long series of processes that took a considerable amount of time and required substantial resources,” head of the Agricultural Quarantine Agency (Barantin) Sahat M. Panggabean said on Monday, adding that the process took nearly two years to complete.
According to Barantin, the export followed market observation showing strong Chinese consumer demand for durian with distinctive taste profiles, a segment Indonesia believes it can fill.
Until now, Chinese consumers have largely relied on supplies from neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Indonesian exporters, meanwhile, have mainly acted as upstream suppliers to these Southeast Asian countries, which then process, package and re-export the products to China.
To change this dynamic, Barantin initiated government-to-government discussions with China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC). These talks led China to issue a draft export protocol for Indonesian frozen durian, which was later finalized and signed on May 25 by Sahat and GACC Minister Sun Meijin, paving the way for direct shipments.
Acting Deputy for Plant Quarantine Drama Panca Putra said traceability was one of the most critical aspects of the export approval process, particularly for frozen durian packing houses.
So far, eight frozen durian packing houses have met the requirements to be designated as Export-Oriented Quarantine Installations (IKT).
These facilities are authorized to conduct visual plant health inspections and serve as export hubs for frozen durian shipments to China. Seven are located in Central Sulawesi, while one is in Bogor, West Java. All are registered in the China Import Food Enterprise Registration system.
Secretary General of the Indonesian Durian Plantation Association (Apdurin) Aditya Pradewo said business players have welcomed the opening of the Chinese market.
“The Chinese market is a giant cake for durian exporters,” he said, noting that China’s annual durian demand reaches Rp 128 trillion (US$8 billion).
With premium varieties such as Bawor, Super Tembaga and Namlung, Indonesia is targeting a 5 to 10 percent market share, potentially generating Rp 6.4 trillion to Rp 12.8 trillion in foreign exchange earnings annually.
Aditya added that direct exports also significantly reduce logistics costs and offer higher margins, as durian prices in China are currently five to seven times higher than local prices.
Durian business player Muchlido Apriliast, owner of PT Zarafa Ridho Lestari, echoed this view, saying Indonesian exporters previously routed frozen durian shipments through Thailand at a cost of around $18,000 per container.
Direct exports under the new protocol have reduced logistics costs to $10,000 to $11,000 per container, saving roughly $8,000 per shipment.
Under the protocol, exportable frozen durian products include pulp, puree and whole durian derived from fresh, ripe Indonesian durian that has undergone quick freezing.
Barantin data show Indonesia exported 10,162 tonnes of durian between January and November 2025.
Major destinations included Thailand (6,003 tonnes), China (2,574 tonnes) and Malaysia (1,532 tonnes), alongside smaller shipments to Hong Kong, Germany and other markets.