Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin) and the Central Sulawesi Provincial Government have dispatched 459 tons of frozen durian to China on Thursday.The export, valued at Rp42.5 billion (approximately US$2.47 million), was shipped from Palu, Central Sulawesi.In a statement on Friday, Barantin Head Sahat M. Panggabean stated that the export is the result of a long process to open market access following the signing of the Indonesia-China frozen durian export protocol on May 25, 2025.“The success of durian exports in penetrating the Chinese market is the result of hard work and collaboration among all parties, from farmers to the government,” he said.He added that to date, 151 containers of durian have been shipped to China, with an economic value reaching Rp377.5 billion.Previously, Indonesian durian exports to China were not conducted directly, having to pass through intermediary countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia before reaching the destination market.According to Panggabean, direct exports to China have slashed logistics time from approximately 56 days to just 22–26 days and halved distribution costs, significantly improving the cash flow of business players.He emphasized that his agency continues to guarantee the quality and safety of export products by meeting international standards to maintain global market trust.Head of the Central Sulawesi Quarantine Office, Alfian, noted that from January to April 2026, frozen durian exports to China reached 4,077 tons, according to Barantin data.“In addition to cutting logistics costs, direct exports to China offer significant profit potential because durian prices there are five to seven times higher than local prices,” he noted.He stated that Central Sulawesi has become a major exporting region, as seven of the eight frozen durian packing houses currently certified for export are located in the province.Based on the provincial government's data, Central Sulawesi has around 3.7 million durian trees with production reaching 95,140 tons in 2025, spread across various districts and cities, particularly Poso and Parigi Moutong.Meanwhile, Central Sulawesi Governor Anwar Hafid underscored that the direct exports have strengthened the province's position as Indonesia's durian hub that can penetrate the global market.The government views China’s durian demand, which reaches approximately US$8 billion annually, as a major opportunity for Indonesia to boost foreign exchange reserves.