INDONESIA

Feedback from the Trade on Their Plans and Interest in the USA Pear Season:

PBNW in Indonesia has communicated with several importers regarding the updated harvest and estimated crop of USA Pears this season, informing them about the higher crop volume and the good quality of the pears, particularly the larger sizes. For this season, three importers have confirmed plans to bring USA Pears into Indonesia. All three importers emphasized that they will require support to accelerate the turnover of USA Pear stocks in the market through promotional activities with retailers.

Expectations for Any Freight or Logistics Challenges:

None at this time.

Opportunities in Your Market for Specific Varieties, Sizes, and Grades:

The popular varieties of USA Pears in Indonesia are Red Anjou and Green Anjou with preferred sizes 70-80 and US#1 grade. This season, PBNW in Indonesia is encouraging importers to re-bring Bosc variety to try and test the market.

Update on the Competition in the Market:

The main competitor for USA Pears in Indonesia remains Chinese Pears, while pears from South Africa and South Korea are also available in the market.

Political or Economic Issues Impacting Imports, Retail, or Consumer Behavior:

Indonesia’s retail sector saw positive activity, with Bank Indonesia forecasting a 4.8% annual increase in retail sales for July. Factors contributing include lower borrowing costs and stable prices. The country's GDP grew by 5.12% in the second quarter, up from 4.87% previously, indicating strong household spending and economic fundamentals. The central bank reduced its key rate to 5.25% from last year’s 6.25%, while inflation remained at 2.37% in July. Bank Indonesia projects GDP growth of 4.6% to 5.4% for next year, suggesting potential for Indonesia to outperform some regional peers, potentially attracting new investment and influencing Southeast Asia's retail landscape. The import duty for USA fruit is still 5%. Importers also hope that the 0% tariff under the Indonesia-US trade deal will be implemented soon, as this would help stabilize USA fruit prices—especially USA Pears—and prevent them from being too high.

Other Brief Comments:

During the trade meetings, PBNW in Indonesia proposed an additional program to strengthen the branding and presence of USA Pears among Indonesian consumers. The plan includes combining offline promotions in retail stores with social media activities. These would feature collaborations with KOLs/influencers to highlight USA Pear programs in stores, as well as engaging campaigns such as a USA Pear recipe contest, particularly for special occasions like World Pear Day.