Indonesia sends first frozen durian shipment to China

The durians were processed in West Java and shipped from Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta to 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,” said Sahat M. Panggabean, head of the Agricultural Quarantine Agency, as quoted by The Jakarta Post. He added that the process took nearly two years to complete.

Indonesia’s frozen durians previously reached China via intermediaries such as Thailand and Malaysia, where the fruit was processed and then re-exported, according to the Global Times.

That changed after an export protocol for the product was finalized and signed by the two countries in May, clearing the way for direct shipments. To date, eight frozen durian packing facilities have met the requirements to serve as hubs for exports to China.

An industry professional said direct shipments have cut logistics costs to $10,000-11,000 from about $18,000 when durians transited through Thailand.

China is the world’s largest durian market. Last year, it imported a record 15.6 million tonnes valued at US$6.99 billion, with Thailand and Vietnam accounting for the bulk of shipments at 57% and 41.5%, respectively, while the remainder came from the Philippines and Malaysia.

Demand softened in the first half of this year, however, with imports falling 15% year-on-year to 708,190 tonnes, the South China Morning Post reported, citing customs data.

Aditya Pradewo, secretary general of the Indonesian Durian Plantation Association, said durian prices in China are currently five to seven times higher than those in Indonesia, as quoted by Between.

The country could capture 5-10% of the Chinese market with premium varieties such as Bawor, Super Tembaga and Namlung, he said.

With that market share, the trade could generate Rp6.4-12.8 trillion in foreign exchange annually, he added.

Data from the quarantine agency shows Indonesia exported 10,162 tonnes of the fruit in the first 11 months of this year, with most of them going to Thailand, China and Malaysia.

Indonesia’s durian output reached 2 million tonnes in 2024, the highest level in four years. Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi were the top growing regions, according to Zulkifli Hasan, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs.

The minister shared the data last month in response to Malaysia’s bid to make durian its national fruit.

“Durian Nusantara is Indonesia’s strength in Asia. Indonesia has 21 out of 27 durian species recognized globally, and up until 2024, some 114 new superior varieties are registered,” he said at the time.