Indonesia launches US$65,000 first yoghurt exports to Vietnam

INDONESIA – Indonesia has marked a breakthrough in its dairy sector by launching its first-ever yoghurt exports to Vietnam, as overall dairy shipments from the country record strong growth in early 2026, according to ANTARA.

The inaugural export, valued at US$65,000, was facilitated by the Ministry of Trade of Indonesia, signalling increasing international recognition of the quality and competitiveness of Indonesian dairy products.

Officials say the move strengthens Indonesia’s presence in Asian markets and reflects rising demand for value-added agricultural goods. The development comes amid a broader upward trend in dairy exports, which reached US$71.68 million in 2025, continuing steady growth over recent years.

Export momentum accelerated sharply at the start of 2026. Between January and February, dairy shipments totalled US$14.81 million, representing a 63.43 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025. Yoghurt exports alone reached US$1.45 million during the same period, up 50.30 per cent year-on-year.

According to Fajarini Puntodewi, Director General of National Export Development, the milestone confirms that Indonesian dairy products meet international standards and are increasingly competitive in global markets.

The government has also introduced a range of measures to further expand export opportunities, including trade missions, participation in international exhibitions, business matchmaking initiatives and capacity-building programmes aimed at helping producers meet global quality requirements.

Authorities are encouraging closer cooperation between industry stakeholders to strengthen the international positioning of Indonesian products and sustain export growth in the coming years.

Analysts note that the successful entry into the Vietnamese market could open new pathways for Indonesian dairy exports across Asia, reinforcing the country’s role in regional food trade, the source claimed.

Recently, Indonesian agricultural officials announced that the country imported 1,383 more cows from Australia this week, as part of a US$3 billion plan to woo small farmers to join efforts to quadruple dairy output.

The imported herd will be distributed across selected farms and cooperatives, with a strong emphasis on supporting smallholder farmers.

Authorities have highlighted that the program is designed not only to increase production capacity but also to empower rural communities by providing access to improved genetics, training, and modern dairy practices.

The centrepiece of a free meals programme covering 83 million children and expectant mothers, the plan calls for imports of a ⁠million ‌dairy cows over five ⁠years to boost numbers from 220,000 now.

The ministry said the cattle imports comprised joint shipments and breeding, involving ‍cooperatives and farmers since last year, with their milk yield set to flow into the processing industry ​to ensure certainty of supply.

The latest shipment of dairy cows faces quarantine and disease ⁠checks in the city of Cilacap in the province of central Java, said Hendra ⁠Wibawa, an animal health official at the ministry.

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