Indonesia is moving to expand its presence in China's durian market by pursuing direct export routes, aiming to bypass intermediary countries and increase national profit margins. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono stated that Indonesia is exploring direct export opportunities after recent discussions with his Chinese counterpart. These talks focused on cutting out re-export channels through Thailand and Malaysia.
"Until now, our durian has been exported to Thailand, which then re-exports it to China. We only earn about 10 per cent. If we export directly to China, we could gain up to 30 per cent," Sudaryono said following the plenary session of the Indonesian Farmers Harmony Association (HKTI) in Jakarta on October 3, 2025, as quoted by antaranews.com.
According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), Indonesia exported 600 tons of durian in 2024, valued at US$1.8 million (approximately IDR 29.7 billion). Thailand and Hong Kong were the primary destinations for these shipments. At the same time, China's Customs Authority reported that the country imported a record 15.6 billion kilograms of durian in 2024, a 9.4 per cent increase compared with the previous year, with a value close to US$7 billion.
Sudaryono expressed confidence in Indonesia's ability to compete, citing quality and freshness as selling points. "We're fresh from the oven. We're ready to participate with good practices," he said.
By developing direct export channels, Indonesia seeks to secure a larger share of revenue from its durian trade with China.
Source: RRI
