RRI.CO.ID, Palu – The Indonesian Quarantine Agency and the Central Sulawesi Provincial Government launched the export of durians from Central Sulawesi to China in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. A total of 459 tons of durians, valued at Rp42.5 billion, will be shipped to China.

The Indonesian Quarantine Agency Head, Sahat M Panggabean, during the export launch, spoke about the long journey Indonesian durians have taken to finally penetrate the Chinese market. This lengthy process yielded encouraging results following the signing of the Protocol on the Export of Frozen Durian from Indonesia to China by the Head of the Indonesian Quarantine Agency and the Minister of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) on May 25, 2025.

Previously, frozen durians had no direct shipping access to China. Typically, durians had to transit through other countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia.

With direct export access, the logistics time for durians from Indonesia to China has been reduced from 56 days to 22–26 days, and logistics costs have been cut by up to half. This reduction in business costs also supports the production process for exporters.

Sahat highly appreciates the collaborative efforts of all relevant stakeholders, ranging from farmers, business operators, local governments, ministries, and other related agencies. He also stated that 151 containers have already been successfully shipped.

“The success of durian exports in entering the Chinese market is the result of our collective hard work and collaboration. To date, 151 containers have been shipped to China, with an economic value of Rp377.5 billion. The Indonesian Quarantine Agency consistently ensures quality, food safety, and compliance with international standards to maintain global trust,” Sahat said.

Demand for durian in China reaches USD 8 billion, or approximately Rp128 trillion, per year. The premium varieties in demand include Bawor, Super Tembaga, and Namlung. Indonesia is optimistic that it can capture 5–10 percent of the market share, with potential foreign exchange earnings of Rp6.4 trillion to Rp12.8 trillion per year.