Direct China-Indonesia sea route for fruit exports opens with durian shipment

China has received its first shipment of frozen durians from Indonesia, marking the launch of a new direct sea route for fruit exports between the two countries.

The consignment arrived on Tuesday at Qinzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, carrying 23 metric tons of frozen durian flesh and pulp. The shipment will undergo further processing in the city before entering the domestic market.

This development is part of Qinzhou's broader initiative to establish itself as a key China-ASEAN fruit trading hub. The city is pioneering a fast-track customs clearance process for imported fruits to streamline the entry of Southeast Asian produce into China.

According to customs data, Qinzhou Port has seen an increase in fruit imports, with 29,000 tons of fruits and fruit products entering through the port in the first 11 months of 2025, reflecting a 3.7 percent year-on-year increase.

Department of Commerce of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region reported robust growth in ASEAN fruit imports, with over 2.65 million tons of fruits valued at 4.06 billion yuan ($581 million) entering through the region's ports in the same period.

This represents a 15.77 percent increase in volume and a 22.03 percent rise in value compared to the previous year, data showed.