The Indonesian government is actively pursuing new export opportunities to China, focusing on key agricultural commodities. According to Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono, Indonesia produces large volumes of durian, but so far, almost none are shipped directly to China; most exports currently route through third countries. He also highlighted that Indonesia is a major global producer of edible bird’s nests, yet sends very little directly to China. Indonesia aims to establish direct access to the Chinese market, which responded positively and now requires follow-up actions to make the exports happen.
Beyond fruits and bird’s nests, Indonesia has surplus poultry production—chicken and eggs—that could also penetrate China’s market. Sudaryono argued it makes more sense to export directly rather than sending to other nations and having those re-export to China, especially given China’s huge population of 1.3 billion. In addition, both countries agreed to deepen cooperation in rice, including technology transfers, research, and seed supply. Meanwhile, China has requested guarantees on Indonesia’s crude palm oil (CPO) supply given growing demand in the upcoming year.
