Feature: Rising demand in China brings fortune to Indonesian salak farmers

JAKARTA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The authentic taste of Indonesia's slightly sweet and sour salak fruit, also known as snake fruit, has gained increasing popularity among Chinese consumers. The pear-shaped, fig-sized fruit with a pointed tip has become a source of livelihood for farmers in Indonesia, particularly in Yogyakarta province.

The growing demand in China is partly fueled by reviews on Chinese social media platforms, such as Xiaohongshu (RedNote). Many influencers have posted videos about salak, some garnering thousands of likes and comments.

One influencer with over 500,000 followers once uploaded a review video, calling salak one of his favorite fruits and praising its delicious taste and nutritional value. The video garnered nearly 14,000 likes and over 1,000 comments, with many expressing curiosity about the fruit's flavor.

China has long been an importer of Indonesian salak. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), between January and April 2025, salak exports to China surged by 90 percent, reaching 571 tons. This makes China the second-largest export destination after Malaysia.

As a tropical fruit, salak thrives in Indonesia, especially in Yogyakarta, one of the country's major production hubs.

With China accounting for 26 percent of Indonesia's salak exports, it represents a vital market. For many farmers, like Endang Setyo Murni from the Kusuma Mulya Farmers Group in Sleman, Yogyakarta, this demand is transformative.

"There is no market for salak that offers a higher price than exports, especially to China," she said, adding that China has become a profitable market.

However, Murni admitted that supply doesn't always meet demand due to limited harvests.