Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormDried/Dehydrated flakes
Industry PositionFood Ingredient (dehydrated vegetable)
Market
Dried onion flakes (trade-aligned with HS 071220: dried onions, whole/cut/sliced/broken or in powder, not further prepared) are supplied to Indonesia primarily through imports for use as a shelf-stable culinary ingredient. UNSD Comtrade data via WITS shows Indonesia imported about USD 32.5 million of dried onions in 2024, and in 2023 key supplier countries included China, India, Egypt, and the United States. Market access and distribution are strongly shaped by Indonesian quarantine requirements (including Prior Notice submissions to the Indonesian Quarantine Authority) and, for products traded in retail packaging, BPOM pre-market registration and Bahasa Indonesia labeling compliance. For many channels, halal-certification timelines and enforcement expectations can also affect go-to-market planning.
Market RoleNet importer (import-dependent ingredient market)
Domestic RoleCulinary ingredient used by Indonesia’s processed-food and seasoning producers and by importers/distributors serving food manufacturing and retail seasoning channels
Market GrowthMixed (recent years (2020–2024 trade value context))volatile year-to-year import values
SeasonalityYear-round availability because the product is shelf-stable; procurement is driven more by inventory cycles and import logistics than harvest seasonality.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Low visible foreign matter and insect fragments expected for food-ingredient acceptance; inspection sensitivity is high because the product is dried and concentrated.
- Color and uniform flake size are common buyer acceptance attributes for onion flakes used in culinary products.
Compositional Metrics- Moisture pickup control is critical in Indonesia’s humid logistics environment; moisture ingress increases caking risk and can elevate microbial risk.
Packaging- Moisture-barrier packaging (liners, sealed inner bags) is prioritized for Indonesia distribution due to humidity exposure risks in warehousing and inland transport.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Overseas dehydration/packing → sea freight to Indonesia → Indonesian Quarantine Authority Prior Notice + border checks → customs clearance (BTKI/HS classification) → importer warehousing → bulk industrial distribution and/or repacking for retail
Temperature- Ambient shipment is typical, but storage should minimize heat and humidity to protect aroma and prevent moisture uptake.
Atmosphere Control- Humidity control (tight seals, desiccants where appropriate) is more critical than controlled-atmosphere handling for this dried product.
Shelf Life- Shelf-stable when kept sealed and dry; quality degradation risk rises sharply after seal breaks or if warehousing humidity control is weak.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighFailure to comply with Indonesia’s quarantine Prior Notice requirements (implemented for consignments departing on/after 6 Oct 2024 for plants and plant products) can trigger shipment delays, holds, or clearance disruption at entry.Align exporter–importer workflows to file IQA Prior Notice via the official portal before departure and ensure supporting documents (e.g., certificate references, lab/testing details) are ready and consistent.
Regulatory Compliance MediumIf dried onion flakes are imported for retail sale in consumer packaging, missing BPOM pre-market registration (PB-UMKU / BPOM RI ML) and/or non-compliant Bahasa Indonesia labeling can block legal distribution and lead to enforcement actions.Confirm whether the product is a retail packaged processed food versus an industrial raw material input; complete BPOM registration and labeling checks before shipment for retail SKUs.
Religious Certification MediumHalal certification timelines and enforcement expectations for imported food products have evolved and can affect product launch timing and channel access even for plant-based ingredients/foods.Validate current BPJPH requirements and mutual-recognition pathways (if applicable) for the specific product category and importer-of-record; plan lead time for certification if required.
Food Safety MediumAs a dried ingredient, quality issues (foreign matter, pests, or out-of-spec contaminants) can lead to rejection, rework, or importer delisting; BPOM registration criteria emphasize safety, quality, and labeling compliance for processed foods in retail packaging.Implement pre-shipment QA (sieving/metal detection where applicable), maintain a robust COA/testing dossier, and keep batch traceability aligned to labeling and import documentation.
Logistics MediumIndonesia’s high humidity and variable warehousing conditions increase moisture uptake/caking risk for dried onion flakes, potentially degrading quality and increasing food-safety risk after seal breaks.Use moisture-barrier packaging and strict dry-storage SOPs; prioritize sealed inner liners and minimize exposure time during repacking and last-mile distribution.
Sustainability- Food-loss risk from moisture ingress during tropical warehousing/distribution; moisture control and packaging integrity are key to minimizing waste.
Labor & Social- No widely documented Indonesia-specific labor controversy for dried onion flakes was identified in the reviewed sources; buyers typically still apply standard supplier labor due diligence for upstream dehydration/packing operations.
FAQ
Are imported dried onion flakes required to be registered with BPOM before sale in Indonesia?If the product is imported to be traded in retail packaging, BPOM states it must be registered (PB-UMKU), and imported processed foods carry a BPOM RI ML registration number. BPOM also notes exemptions for certain processed foods used as raw materials for further processing and not sold directly to end consumers, so the requirement depends on whether the shipment is for retail sale or industrial input use.
How large are Indonesia’s recent imports of dried onions (HS 071220)?UNSD Comtrade data published via WITS shows Indonesia imported about USD 32.5 million (about 17.3 million kg) of dried onions in 2024. In 2023, WITS reports imports of about USD 19.2 million (about 9.5 million kg).
Which countries supplied most of Indonesia’s dried onion imports in 2023?WITS reports that in 2023 Indonesia’s largest supplier countries by import value were China, India, Egypt, and the United States (with much smaller volumes from other origins).
What is Indonesia’s quarantine “Prior Notice” requirement and when did it take effect for plant products?Government notices summarizing Indonesian Quarantine Authority requirements indicate that exporters of plants and plant products must submit a Prior Notice to the Indonesian Quarantine Authority (IQA) for consignments departing on or after 6 October 2024, using an online portal. Missing or incorrect Prior Notice submission can disrupt clearance, so exporters typically coordinate closely with their Indonesian importer to ensure the submission and supporting information are complete.
Do halal certification timelines matter for importing dried onion flakes into Indonesia?They can. BPJPH has stated halal certification obligations took effect from 18 October 2024 for key product groups, and USDA FAS reporting indicates an extension for many imported food and beverage products to come into compliance no later than 17 October 2026. Whether halal certification is required for a specific dried onion flake product depends on how it is categorized and distributed in Indonesia, so importers commonly verify the current requirement with BPJPH guidance and channel rules.