Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance reports phenomenal growth in fruit and spice exports in Quarter 1, 2024.
According to Majalah Hortus on June 17, 2024, fruit exports reached $262.44 million (4.302 trillion IDR) from January to March 2024, a 65.37% yearly increase.
Similarly, spice exports increased to $178.47 million (2.926 trillion IDR), 13.58% above the January-March 2023 postings.
The dual results reveal that Indonesia could surpass yearly fruit and spice export targets especially for cloves, black/white pepper, mangosteen and rambutan.
According to Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS), fruit shipments hit 1.2 million tonnes, worth $637.93 million (10.458 trillion IDR) in 2023.
Likewise, spice exports brought the economy $613.79 million (10.063 trillion IDR) from 157,790 tonnes, a 26.75% yearly increase.
Indonesia now targets Europe and the U.S for fruit and spice exports, adding to the traditional markets of China, Japan and Bangladesh. In this regard, the head of the financing department in the Ministry of Finance’s Export Financing Institution (LPEI) Berlianto Wibowo promised exporters steady fiscal support.
LPEI’s Export Financing Role
Central to this shipping momentum is LPEI’s financing program known as PKE for small-, medium- and large-scale exporters. By April 2024, PKE financing worth 15.2 trillion IDR ($926.44 million) had helped bring Indonesia’s fresh produce to 90 countries.
LPEI has also benefited small-scale fruit and spice growers by supporting organic food exporters who buy from the farmers..
Among these is PT Mega Inovasi Organik (MIO), which connects 2,500 farmers in oil palm-rich Sumatra island via FKE.
This echoes Wibowo’s expectation that PKE facilitation can help boost the current levels of exports through financial support.
Fittingly, as Indonesia’s fruit and spice exports register quarterly growth, the country’s horticultural sector is readying for an international showcase. It will be under the theme “A Day of Indonesia’s Hortus Colere.” And as the statistics below reveal, the country’s fruit and spice “hortus” show strong performances in trade and consumption.
Indonesia Fruit and Spice Statistics
Indonesia is not only a huge exporter of fruits and spices but a big consumer, too. In 2021 when local spice consumption peaked, each Indonesian ate 2.01 kg of spices yearly, the 40th highest among 147 nations. Fruit consumption, on the other hand, was at 31.3 kg per person per year in 2021. The 2021 result tied that of 2012 as the highest ever domestically and the 47th highest among 165 nations.
What is the yearly value of Indonesia’s fruit exports?
In 2023, Indonesia exported $335.27 million worth of fruits, down from the 10-year peak of $522.16 million in 2022. The main destinations included China, Hong Kong and Malaysia. In terms of tropical fruit exports such as mangosteen and rambutan, Indonesia ranked 33rd worldwide in 2022, at $85.8 million.
What is the value of Indonesia’s spice exports?
Indonesia exported $20.3 million worth of spices in 2022, the 25th biggest value in the world. Nevertheless, spices were only the 462nd most exported good from Indonesia in 2022, according to OEC. Interestingly, the country imported $9.08 million of spices in 2022 to meet domestic needs.