Indonesia targets $8B in durian exports to China

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is also the coordinator for cooperation with China, said the potential of durian exports to China could reach $8 billion.

Noting some measures taken to achieve the export target, Luhut said the Indonesian Government has made an arrangement involving the Beijing Genomics Institute to conduct a study to ensure high-quality durians for export.

It has built about 100 hectares of durian plantations in the provinces of North Sumatra and West Papua, and is planning to build more in other provinces, including in Central Sulawesi. Those locations are said to be able to grow trees that can produce durians demanded by the Chinese market, the official added.

Last year, the archipelago nation produced up to 1.85 million tons of durian, over 50% of which came from the island of Java. East Java province is reportedly the largest durian producer in the country, with output amounting to more than 480,000 tons in 2023, according to Statistics Indonesia.