INDONESIA – Indonesia is stepping up efforts to diversify its export markets by targeting Central Asia and Africa as part of a broader strategy to reduce dependence on traditional trading partners and expand opportunities for higher-value agricultural and processed products.
The initiative forms part of the government’s long-term export development agenda, which aims to strengthen Indonesia’s presence in emerging markets while encouraging greater value addition across its agricultural sector.
According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade, both Central Asia and Africa present significant untapped potential for Indonesian exports, particularly for agricultural produce, processed foods and specialty tropical products. Officials identified products such as snake fruit, coffee and cocoa among commodities with strong export prospects.
The government is encouraging producers to move beyond exporting raw agricultural commodities by investing in local processing, packaging and product development. Officials believe that exporting finished and premium products rather than unprocessed materials will increase export earnings, improve competitiveness and strengthen Indonesia’s position within global supply chains.
Bali is expected to play an important role in the strategy due to its production of tropical fruits, coffee and cocoa. Authorities say expanding processing capacity will enable these products to reach international markets as value-added exports, generating greater returns for producers and the wider economy.
Indonesia’s export diversification drive comes against the backdrop of continued growth in international trade.
National exports reached US$282.91 billion in 2025, up from US$266.52 billion in 2024, representing steady growth driven by strong demand across several sectors. Between 2021 and 2025, the country’s exports recorded an average annual growth rate of 3.12%.
Trade performance has remained strong in 2026. Indonesia recorded a US$3.58 billion trade surplus during the first six months of the year, while the country’s annual trade surplus expanded from approximately US$31 billion in 2024 to US$41 billion in 2025.
Export earnings have already reached around US$280 billion so far this year, placing Indonesia on course to achieve its full-year export target of US$315 billion.
Government officials noted that successfully expanding into African and Central Asian markets will require stronger collaboration between national and regional authorities, exporters and industry stakeholders. They also highlighted the importance of improving logistics, meeting international quality standards and developing market-specific export strategies to ensure long-term growth.
The latest initiative reflects Indonesia’s broader commitment to diversifying its export destinations while increasing the share of value-added agricultural products in its international trade portfolio.