First sea-shipment of Indonesian frozen durian arrives in China, opening new trade route-Xinhua
NANNING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) — A ceremony was held on Tuesday at Qinzhou Port, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, marking the arrival of Indonesia’s first container of frozen durian exported to China via maritime transport, an important step in expanding bilateral agricultural trade.
The container, carrying 23 tonnes of frozen durian pulp and puree from Indonesia, was imported by Guangxi Jiarong Food Technology Co., Ltd. It departed the Port of Jakarta on Dec. 26, 2025. After completing customs clearance, it arrived at a bonded warehouse in the Qinzhou comprehensive bonded zone on Monday, marking the opening of a dedicated maritime route linking Indonesian production areas with the Chinese market.
Previously, only small quantities of Indonesian frozen durian were imported into China by air for trial consumption. With the support of established shipping routes and cold-chain logistics, Indonesian frozen durian is expected to be supplied to China on a more stable and larger scale, injecting new momentum into Indonesia-China economic and trade cooperation.
Wu Junyi, the company’s general manager, said the frozen durian will be processed into a range of value-added products, including frozen durian pulp and freeze-dried durian.
The company has invested 30 million yuan (about 4.27 million U.S. dollars) to build an intelligent durian processing factory covering the full industry chain, integrating technologies such as AI-based hyperspectral sorting, liquid nitrogen quick freezing and freeze-drying.
These technologies enable standardized production, helping address long-standing bottlenecks related to manual sorting and inconsistent quality.
Taking the durian import as a model, the company will explore and establish a standardized, replicable pathway for the import and processing of other specialty agricultural products from ASEAN countries, Wu said.
Previously, Indonesian durian products were required to be processed in a third country before entering China. This shipment came after the signing of a phytosanitary protocol between China’s General Administration of Customs and Indonesia’s quarantine authority in May 2025, which removed such requirements.
Budi Hansyah, trade attache of the Indonesian Embassy in China, said the entry of Indonesian frozen durian into the Chinese market demonstrates the close and solid trade relations between the two countries.
At present, eight Indonesian companies have been approved by Chinese customs authorities to export frozen durian, with negotiations for fresh durian market access underway. Indonesia’s diverse durian varieties cater to different consumer preferences, and frozen durian is widely used in desserts, cakes and ice cream, meeting a growing demand in China, he added.
Chen Jing’en, vice mayor of Qinzhou, said the Qinzhou Port, a key hub of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, currently operates 44 shipping routes connecting ASEAN countries, while its sea-rail intermodal services help form an efficient logistics network, allowing Indonesian agricultural products to reach inland markets efficiently or connect with China-Europe freight trains.
Looking ahead, the scheduled opening of the Pinglu Canal in 2026 is projected to reduce logistics costs by about 30 percent, further facilitating the entry of Indonesian and other ASEAN agricultural products into the Chinese market.
In recent years, Guangxi has continued to deepen practical cooperation with ASEAN countries in agricultural trade. Data from the regional commerce department show that from January to November 2025, Guangxi ports imported more than 2.65 million tonnes of fruits from ASEAN, up 15.8 percent year on year, with a total value exceeding 40.6 billion yuan, up 22 percent.
China stands as the world’s major importer and consumer of durian. In recent years, trade in the “king of fruits” has emerged as a flagship component of agricultural cooperation between China and ASEAN. The inclusion of Indonesian frozen durian further expands opportunities, allowing ASEAN countries to share more deeply in the dividends of China’s economic growth. ■
ARTICOL EDITAT
Indonesia’s Frozen Durian Gains Access to Chinese Market via Qinzhou Port
QINZHOU, China – January 8, 2026 – A significant milestone in Indonesia-China agricultural trade was marked on Tuesday with the arrival of the first container of frozen durian exported from Indonesia to China via maritime transport at Qinzhou Port in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. This development is expected to substantially increase the availability of Indonesian durian in the Chinese market.
First Shipment Details
The inaugural shipment, consisting of 23 tonnes of frozen durian pulp and puree, was imported by Guangxi Jiarong Food Technology Co., Ltd. Departing from the Port of Jakarta on December 26, 2025, the container underwent customs clearance and arrived at a bonded warehouse within the Qinzhou comprehensive bonded zone on Monday, establishing a dedicated maritime route connecting Indonesian production areas directly to Chinese consumers.
Expanding Trade Beyond Air Freight
Prior to this, Indonesian frozen durian imports into China were limited to small quantities transported by air for trial purposes. The establishment of reliable shipping routes and robust cold-chain logistics infrastructure will enable a more consistent and larger-scale supply of Indonesian frozen durian to China, bolstering economic and trade cooperation between the two nations.
Investment in Durian Processing Technology
Guangxi Jiarong Food Technology Co., Ltd. has invested 30 million yuan (approximately $4.27 million USD) in constructing an intelligent durian processing facility. This state-of-the-art factory integrates advanced technologies, including AI-based hyperspectral sorting, liquid nitrogen quick freezing, and freeze-drying techniques. These innovations aim to standardize production processes and overcome historical challenges related to manual sorting and quality inconsistencies.
A Model for ASEAN Agricultural Imports
According to Wu Junyi, General Manager of Guangxi Jiarong Food Technology, the successful durian import will serve as a model for establishing standardized and replicable pathways for importing and processing other specialty agricultural products from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.
Phytosanitary Protocol Facilitates Trade
Previously, Indonesian durian products were required to undergo processing in a third country before being eligible for import into China. This requirement was removed following the signing of a phytosanitary protocol between China’s General Administration of Customs and Indonesia’s quarantine authority in May 2025 [China Customs Announcement]. This agreement paved the way for direct shipments of Indonesian durian to the Chinese market.
Strong Bilateral Trade Relations
Budi Hansyah, Trade Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in China, emphasized that the entry of Indonesian frozen durian into China underscores the strong and enduring trade relationship between the two countries. Currently, eight Indonesian companies have received approval from Chinese customs to export frozen durian, with ongoing negotiations focused on gaining market access for fresh durian.
Qinzhou Port: A Key Trade Hub
Chen Jing’en, Vice Mayor of Qinzhou, highlighted the strategic importance of Qinzhou Port as a key hub within the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. The port currently operates 44 shipping routes connecting to ASEAN countries and utilizes sea-rail intermodal services to create an efficient logistics network, facilitating the distribution of Indonesian agricultural products to inland Chinese markets and connecting them to China-Europe freight trains.
Future Logistics Improvements
The anticipated opening of the Pinglu Canal in 2026 is projected to reduce logistics costs by approximately 30 percent, further enhancing the accessibility of Indonesian and other ASEAN agricultural products to the Chinese market. [Xinhua News – Pinglu Canal]
Growing ASEAN-China Agricultural Trade
Guangxi province has been actively strengthening practical cooperation with ASEAN countries in agricultural trade. Data from the regional commerce department indicates that from January to November 2025, Guangxi ports imported over 2.65 million tonnes of fruits from ASEAN, a 15.8 percent increase year-on-year, with a total value exceeding 40.6 billion yuan, representing a 22 percent increase.
China’s Demand for Durian
China is the world’s largest importer and consumer of durian. Trade in this “king of fruits” has become a cornerstone of agricultural cooperation between China and ASEAN. The inclusion of Indonesian frozen durian expands opportunities for ASEAN countries to benefit from China’s economic growth. Indonesia’s diverse durian varieties are well-suited to Chinese consumer preferences, and frozen durian is increasingly used in desserts, cakes, and ice cream.