Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia exported US$18.81 million worth of soy sauce from January to August 2026 to several countries, according to the Ministry of Trade.
The ministry's Acting Director of Service and Creative Product Export Development, Deden Mohammad Fajar Shiddiq, said the figure included exports worth US$3.77 million to Australia and US$3.3 million to Malaysia.
Speaking at a culinary festival in Jakarta on Saturday, he attributed strong demand for Indonesian soy sauce in Australia to the sizeable Indonesian diaspora community there, including a large number of students.
"We can see that there are many diaspora members there, meaning there are plenty of Indonesian restaurants as well," he said.
Shiddiq added that the large Indonesian diaspora community in Malaysia had likewise contributed to the country's substantial imports of Indonesian soy sauce.
"Regarding Malaysia, we have recorded 2.54 million members of our diaspora community there. That is why we see a high value of exports to the country," he said.
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Meanwhile, exports to Saudi Arabia were valued at US$1.74 million, followed by the United States at US$1.5 million and the Netherlands at US$1.2 million.
He also highlighted the Trade Ministry's commitment to further strengthening Indonesia's food industry to capitalize on opportunities in the global culinary market, which is valued at around US$4.3 trillion and is growing at an annual rate of 6.9 percent.
"By 2031, the value is projected to reach around US$7.6 trillion," Shiddiq said.
To support this strategy, he said the ministry is rolling out S'RASA, a national program designed to promote Indonesian culinary businesses in overseas markets.
He added the initiative draws inspiration from Thailand's efforts in expanding the global reach of its culinary industry while preserving the authenticity of its cuisine.
According to him, that success stems from government efforts to ensure reliable supply chains for Thai restaurants abroad.
"And that is exactly what we have done and will continue to do," the official said.
Shiddiq further noted that S'RASA has been in place since 2025, with the government currently exploring opportunities for Indonesian restaurants in Australia, the US, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
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Translator: A. Faisal, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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