Thanks to Jokowi, Indonesian Pineapples Now Conquer China

Indonesia’s pineapple production soared throughout 2025, propelling exports, especially to China. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported that national pineapple production reached 3.21 million tonnes, an increase of 17.3% or 474.1 thousand tonnes compared to 2024. This production increase aligns with a greater number of pineapple plants entering their harvest period. Throughout 2025, the number of productive plants reached 747.22 million clumps, rising 6.32% or approximately 44.45 million clumps from the previous year. The peak production occurred in the second quarter of 2025, with harvests reaching 844.79 thousand tonnes from 593.49 million productive clumps. Regionally, Lampung remains the national pineapple hub with production reaching 698.9 thousand tonnes, contributing 21.74% to the total national output. The number of productive plants in this province reached 178.73 million clumps. East Java followed with production of 506.41 thousand tonnes, accounting for 15.75% of the national total, while Riau placed third with 349.61 thousand tonnes, or about 10.88% of total national production. Beyond production, Indonesia’s pineapple export performance also continued to strengthen. The export value of pineapples throughout 2025 reached US$334.67 million, approximately Rp 6 trillion. This figure increased by 5.91% or around US$18.69 million compared to the previous year. The United States remains the largest market for Indonesian pineapples, with export values reaching US$88.89 million, equivalent to 59.36 thousand tonnes. The Netherlands followed with US$34.44 million, or 17.43 thousand tonnes, and China with US$31.60 million, or 26.63 thousand tonnes. China’s entry into the top three export destinations for Indonesian pineapples is welcome news. BPS data shows that China had never been in the top three before 2024, and it has now displaced Spain as a major export destination. The surge in pineapple exports to China is the sweet result of a trade agreement between the two countries. Pineapples were specifically mentioned in the cooperation agreement between China and Indonesia during former President Joko Widodo’s visit to China in July 2022. One of the key agreements approved by President Jokowi and President Xi Jinping was the export of fresh Indonesian pineapples to Beijing. The importance of pineapples in the economic agreement between China and Indonesia was reflected in the joint bilateral press statement, which specifically noted the signing of cooperation documents including the importation of Indonesian pineapples. Three years after that agreement, pineapple exports to China are now flowing strongly, with Indonesian pineapples competing against those from the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Costa Rica in the Chinese market. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s pineapple imports remain very small, with a total value of only US$350.65 thousand throughout 2025, despite a 140.6% percentage surge compared to the previous year. Austria was the largest pineapple supplier to Indonesia with an import value of US$59.88 thousand, followed by Thailand at US$50.79 thousand, and China at US$21.29 thousand.