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Indonesia’s frozen durian has officially gained access to the Chinese market, marking a significant milestone in agricultural trade between these two Asian economic powerhouses.
Specifically, the first shipment, comprising approximately 48 tons of frozen durian, was imported and distributed through Qinzhou Port in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as announced by Indonesia’s Quarantine Agency (Barantin).
According to Sahat Manaor Panggabean, head of Barantin, the inaugural shipment was exported from Indonesia on December 15, 2025, and arrived at Qinzhou Port on January 6, 2026, after fully meeting China’s customs and phytosanitary standards.
Mr. Panggabean highlighted that China’s acceptance of Indonesia’s frozen durian underscores the recognition and trust in Indonesia’s national quarantine system, particularly regarding food safety, plant health, and product quality. This achievement is the culmination of years of technical consultations and bilateral cooperation aimed at establishing and implementing a phytosanitary protocol for frozen durian.
A critical factor in Indonesia’s success in meeting China’s stringent requirements was its closed-loop traceability system, which covers the entire supply chain from cultivation, harvesting, and processing to transportation. This system ensures that each batch can be monitored for quality, origin, and biosafety, aligning with China’s increasingly rigorous import standards.
The clearance of Indonesia’s frozen durian also strengthens the role of the China-ASEAN Fruit Trade Center in Qinzhou, positioned as a strategic logistics and distribution hub for Southeast Asian fruits. The center integrates customs, quarantine, and cold storage facilities, streamlining clearance times and preserving produce quality.
In 2025, Qinzhou Port operated 44 direct shipping routes connecting to ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, as part of China’s New Western Land-Sea Corridor. This network aims to enhance trade connectivity between western China and Southeast Asian economies.
Qinzhou Port’s prospects are expected to improve further with the anticipated 2026 launch of the Ping’an Canal. This new waterway is projected to reduce logistics costs for ASEAN agricultural products entering southwestern China by up to 30%, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of regional agricultural goods, including durian.
Mr. Panggabean emphasized that the successful export of frozen durian to China not only holds commercial significance for this product but also sets the stage for Indonesia to expand exports of other agricultural commodities to the Chinese market. This success, he noted, is built on a robust quarantine system and increasingly strong international cooperation between the two nations.
Amid surging durian demand in China, Indonesia’s entry into the market with frozen durian is expected to intensify regional supply chain competition while offering Chinese importers and consumers greater choice.
