Agro Bumi Sumatera – Over the past two years, Indonesia has maintained its position as one of the world’s largest areca nut exporters.
Shipment volumes to various countries remain high, and buyers from Asia to the Middle East still rely on supply from here.
Yet behind those export figures lies an important question: how did areca nut prices in international markets differ between 2023 and 2024?
Using FOB (Free On Board) data from Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS), we can see a clear picture of average price per kilogram for Indonesia’s main areca nut export destinations.
Indonesian Areca Nut Price Comparison in Main Destination Countries (2023 & 2024)
To keep the comparison focused, we look at the five largest destination countries in 2024: Iran, China, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
Read more: Indonesian Areca Nut Export Destination Countries
The figures used are FOB price per kg, the price of goods at the Indonesian port before shipping and insurance costs.
So FOB can be described as the “price at the export gate”, reflecting the selling value directly from producer to global market.
Iran – US$0.59/kg to US$0.57/kg
In Iran, the price is relatively stable. In 2023 it sat around US$0.59/kg, then corrected slightly to US$0.57/kg in 2024.
This small decline shows the Iranian market tends to be consistent, with competition playing out more on product quality.
China – US$1.13/kg to US$0.74/kg
China saw a fairly sharp decline. From US$1.13/kg in 2023, the price fell to US$0.74/kg in 2024.
Despite large purchasing volumes, price pressure was strongly felt. China increased purchases from Indonesia, with volume rising significantly in 2024, pushing the FOB unit value down through large-scale buying effects and competition among suppliers.
On the downstream side, as reported by The Guardian, there was a degree of increased competition among sellers in China that pushed areca nut prices down.
India – US$0.86/kg to US$0.76/kg
In India, the price fell from US$0.86/kg to US$0.76/kg. One cause is the Minimum Import Price (MIP) policy, which sets a floor on entry prices and tightens room for negotiation.
The MIP was adjusted to ₹351/kg and applied across related tariff lines to prevent undervaluation.
Customs also set a reference “tariff value” for areca nut (USD 6,552 per tonne in the notification of 15 November 2024).
These policies narrow negotiating room below the threshold and push transaction prices toward normalisation.
Bangladesh – US$0.83/kg to US$0.83/kg
Bangladesh is different again, barely changing at all. From US$0.83/kg in 2023 to US$0.83/kg in 2024.
This stability can be an opportunity for exporters to secure long-term contracts without worrying about major fluctuation.
Pakistan – US$1.76/kg to US$0.70/kg
Pakistan recorded the sharpest decline. From US$1.76/kg in 2023 it dropped to US$0.70/kg in 2024.
The decline stemmed from Valuation Ruling No. 1764/2023, which set a reference C&F value, a customs benchmark value per unit, for betel/areca nut at US$1.15/kg for origin Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam.
This limited under-invoicing and raised the burden on the import side. As in India, exporters therefore tended to lower FOB so Pakistani buyers could still absorb the goods.
Areca Nut Price Comparison Table and Chart
Data is taken from BPS and calculated from FOB value divided by export net weight. Figures are rounded to two decimals for readability.
Areca Nut Price Comparison in International Markets (FOB Indonesia) 2023 vs 2024
| Country | 2023 (US$/kg) | 2024 (US$/kg) | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iran (Islamic Republic) | 0.59 | 0.57 | -2.7% |
| China | 1.13 | 0.74 | -34.0% |
| India | 0.86 | 0.76 | -12.0% |
| Bangladesh | 0.83 | 0.83 | +0.4% |
| Pakistan | 1.76 | 0.70 | -59.9% |
Source: Badan Pusat Statistik Indonesia (BPS)
Areca Nut Price Comparison Chart (FOB Indonesia, US$/kg) 2023 vs 2024
Looking at the table and chart above, it is clear that 2024 brought price pressure in almost every major market, with the exception of Bangladesh, which held steady.
PT. Agro Bumi Sumatera: Answering the Global Price Challenge
Price movements like these are not just data; they are a signal for exporters to adjust strategy.
PT. Agro Bumi Sumatera, based in Muaro Jambi, is well used to this kind of dynamic.
Our focus is supplying high-quality young areca nut that meet global market standards.
We protect quality from sorting and drying through to packing, so the price recorded at BPS is not merely a number on paper but a reflection of consistent quality.
Besides serving international buyers, we also open partnerships with local farmers, for both orange areca nut and fresh young areca nut, under clear purchasing standards.
With this strategy we help buyers obtain competitive prices without sacrificing quality, while ensuring farmers earn a fair return.
Closing
Based on BPS FOB areca nut data, 2024 shows varied price trends: some markets held steady like Bangladesh, others came under pressure like China and Pakistan.
For exporters, understanding these differences is essential to negotiate accurately and maximise margin.
In the end, success in international markets is not only about price, but also about quality consistency and the strength of the supply network.
