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Comparative Advantage Analysis of Indonesia's Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) Export in International Market
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Unlocking Indonesia's Export Potential Through Clove Competitiveness Analysis
Indonesia is the world's largest clove producer, yet it does not hold the top position in global exports. Despite strong production capacity, export performance remains inconsistent due to fluctuating productivity, domestic demand dominance, and global competition. This study was conducted to provide a data-driven understanding of Indonesia's competitive position in the global clove market, and to identify whether Indonesian cloves hold a sustainable comparative advantage.
Academic & Policy Research
Ayunina Zenti, S.P., M.Sc.
Jendral Soedirman Research Team
Economic Analysis, Export Competitiveness Study
Understanding Global Trade Competitiveness
Mismatch Between Production & Export Leadership
Indonesia leads in clove production but ranks second in exports, indicating inefficiencies in export competitiveness.
Fluctuating Productivity
Despite increasing plantation area, productivity remains unstable due to climate factors and limited technological adoption.
Global Market Competition
Strong competition from countries like Madagascar, Singapore, and Comoros requires deeper analysis of comparative advantage.
A Quantitative, Trade-Focused Analysis Framework
This study applied a quantitative-descriptive approach using secondary data from international and national institutions to assess Indonesia's competitive position.
Time series data (2010–2019) sourced from BPS, FAO, UN Comtrade, and the Ministry of Agriculture for clove commodity (HS Code 0907).
Measures export competitiveness relative to global trade to determine Indonesia's comparative position in the clove market.
Refines RCA into a balanced competitiveness index for a more accurate assessment of market position.
Comparative analysis with major exporting countries — Madagascar, Singapore, and Comoros — to contextualize Indonesia's performance.
Key Insights from Export Competitiveness Analysis
From our quantitative analysis of trade data, here's what we found about Indonesia's position in the global clove market:
Strength
Core competitive advantages Indonesia holds in global clove trade.
- Indonesia has a strong comparative advantage in clove exports
- Average RCA: 12.88 (>1 = highly competitive)
- Average RSCA: 0.76 (positive = strong market position)
- Largest clove production globally
Weakness
Internal constraints limiting export performance.
- Export volume is limited due to high domestic consumption (cigarette industry)
- Productivity fluctuates despite increasing land area
- Limited adoption of modern agricultural technology
Opportunities
Strategic areas for growth and global market expansion.
- Optimization of large plantation area
- Increased export potential through productivity improvement
- Strengthening position in global market through specialization
Threats
External risks affecting export competitiveness.
- Strong dominance of Madagascar in global exports
- Competition from re-export countries like Singapore
- Climate dependency affecting production stability
Measurable Insights on Export Competitiveness
This study provides a clear validation of Indonesia's comparative advantage, strategic direction for improving export competitiveness, and insight for policymakers to balance domestic demand versus export growth.
Jendral Soedirman Research Team
Research Partner
Ayunina Zenti, S.P., M.Sc.
Lead Researcher
"Indonesia holds the production power to lead global clove trade — the question is whether strategic policy can unlock that latent competitive advantage."
Indonesia has the resources to lead the global clove market — but without productivity optimization and export focus, potential remains underutilized.
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