Bird's nest farmers across Indonesia are feeling severe pressure due to plummeting prices of up to IDR 2.5 million per kilogram and increasingly stringent import regulations, particularly from China. The Chairman of the National Bird's Nest Association (PPSWN), Benny Suryo Sabath Hutapea, stated that new regulations from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), such as the aluminum content limit of <100 mg/kg, are certainly burdensome for farmers, disrupting the export network of approximately 250 tons per year, valued at approximately USD 309 million. The impact is far-reaching: tens of thousands of factory workers and bird's nest farmers face the risk of layoffs, while Indonesia risks losing its reputation as a global source of value-added bird's nest.
To reverse this situation, the PPSWN is urging the government to act as a facilitator and "foster parent" of the bird's nest industry. Downstreaming of nest products for both domestic and export needs is considered a strategic path. By downstreaming and processing them into ready-to-consume products, rather than just raw materials, added value can be increased. This simultaneously opens up employment opportunities and strengthens Indonesia's global position in the bird's nest commodity.
