Description
Mangosteen is a tasty fruit that is still relatively unknown in the West but is a widespread and popular fruit in Southeast Asia. This fruit, scientifically known as Garcinia Mangostana, can be eaten raw or added to smoothies and shakes. The fruit is nutrient-dense and has a variety of special antioxidants that have numerous health advantages.
This beneficial fruit becomes one of the biggest exports for some countries, including Indonesia. With the fertile soil in Indonesia, our country becomes one of the best places for Mangosteen to grow. Moreover, the high demand for Mangosteen supports minor exporters and large exporters to send their harvest abroad.
Since the Indonesian and Chinese governments developed a new protocol for the export of the Queen of Fruits, the export chances of Indonesia Mangosteen have improved substantially in recent years. Previously, when this fruit was banned in China, it was known to be smuggled into Malaysia and Thailand before being shipped to China, fraudulently inflating the export numbers of these two nations.
However, after the signing of the treaty in 2018, the Indonesian mangosteen export business has experienced a resurgence, with numerous new companies obtaining permits to ship directly to China. The government has established a center for mangosteen exports in Sukabumi, Tasikmalaya, Purwakarta, Cianjur, Subang, and Bogor in West Java by establishing plenty of new export packing houses.
West Java’s rich mountainous growing regions are the most greatly anticipated, as the quality and quantity are among the greatest in Indonesia. With plantations spread around the archipelago, Indonesia has a nearly year-round supply. However, the pandemic has been attacking this business and it also affects the Indonesian exporters, especially the minor exporters.
However, during Thailand’s major harvest season, which runs from April to August, export virtually ceases due to Thailand’s proximity to China, which results in lower transportation costs. The Covid-19 pandemic wiped off all demand from China during the peak season, significantly affecting the 2019 and 2020 Indonesian export seasons.
Many minor exporters were impacted, and even the big exporters were forced to reduce their output. Although the Indonesian season ended in early May, our sourcing team has received confirmation that fresh season products from Sumatra would be ready for shipping by mid-July or early August.
While in West Java, early indicators suggest that the season may have begun as early as October or November. Mangosteen exports increased by 553 percent reaching 60K metric tons in 2017 and 2018, according to Indonesian government data. Thai mangosteen imports, on the other hand, made up the vast bulk of all mangosteen that has been imported by China.
China’s appetite is practically insatiable during harvest season. Increased knowledge of post-harvest procedures in Indonesia is resulting in higher-quality fruit in destination markets. Our farmers are also learning new techniques, which means that a bigger percentage of their Mangosteen harvest is fit for export.
Finally, exporter rivalry results in a race to improve quality, quantity, and consistency. All of this points to a promising future for Indonesian mangosteen producers and exporters.
