China's Customs Authority to Visit Indonesia, Will It Immediately Inspect 19 Companies?
The Head of the Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin), Abdul Kadir Karding, is optimistic that Indonesia’s import-export trade prospects with China will become increasingly open. This confidence follows the planned visit of the Chinese customs authority, the General Administration of Customs China (GACC), to Indonesia in mid-July 202scale6.
Karding stated that the GACC visit will discuss various opportunities for exporting Indonesian commodities to the Chinese market, ranging from the plant sector to fisheries. However, one of the critical agendas in the meeting is resolving the issue of aluminium content in edible bird’s nests, which previously triggered a temporary halt on exports from several Indonesian companies.
“Barantin is actively continuing improvement steps, starting from strengthening communication with China to refining regulations,” Karding said in a statement, quoted on Thursday (2/7/2026).
He emphasised that the issue regarding aluminium levels in bird’s nests currently being handled is only temporary and has now entered the final stages of resolution. According to him, the presence of the GACC could serve as a momentum to expand Indonesia’s export access to the ‘Celestial Empire’.
“The arrival of the GACC in Indonesia will further widen the scope of exports to China,” he added.
Previously, the issue of aluminium levels in bird’s nests caused 19 Indonesian exporting companies to face temporary suspensions or freezing of permits to China.
Data from Barantin shows that there are currently 75 bird’s nest companies registered with Barantin. Of that number, 50 companies are registered with the China Import Food Enterprises Registration (CIFER), while another 25 companies are still in the registration process. Additionally, as of June 2026, 4,204 bird’s nest houses have been registered, with 104 others still undergoing registration.
In terms of export performance, the plant sector remains the largest contributor. Palm oil and its derivatives recorded an export value of over Rp32.03 trillion. This is followed by coffee bean exports at Rp6.9 trillion and betel nut exports at Rp2.9 trillion.
From the animal sector, edible bird’s nest remains a flagship commodity with an economic value reaching Rp3.6 trillion.
Barantin Communication Expert, Moksa Hutasoit, stated that the agency continues to open communication channels with business actors to maximise imports and exports to partner countries. According to him, input from business owners is necessary so that governance issues or field obstacles can be addressed immediately.
“The purpose of the Head of the Quarantine Agency opening communication channels is indeed to absorb direct input from business actors so that governance can be improved, which can subsequently boost the national economy,” said Moksa.