Jakarta, Indonesia, 21 November, 2025 — Federal Express Corporation (FedEx), one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, today released insights from a new survey examining trade trends between Asia Pacific (APAC) and Europe, covering 13 markets across the region including Indonesia.
Out of the 100 Indonesian SMEs polled, 87% of them indicated experiencing higher trade volumes with European markets, driven by strong consumer demand (58%), competitive pricing (51%), and strategic export growth (44%) — a clear indication that Europe remains a critical market offering significant growth opportunities for Indonesian businesses.
Strong demand from Europe is acting as a catalyst for Indonesian SMEs. Forty-two percent now have at least a quarter of their customer base in Europe, while 88% plan to start or expand trade with Europe in the next one to two years. Eighty-eight percent are reporting an improved outlook over the past year — 14% above the regional APAC average.
“Indonesian SMEs are tapping into Europe’s growing demand and dynamic markets to accelerate their global growth,” said Garrick Thompson, managing director, FedEx Indonesia. “At FedEx, we’re empowering SMEs with innovative tools, expertise, and sustainable solutions — helping them transform opportunities into growth, build resilience, and thrive in competitive international markets.”
While optimism is high, 98% of Indonesian SMEs report being affected by global logistics disruptions and shifting regulations. The main barriers to entering European markets include custom regulations, import taxes and tariffs, and logistics costs, while top challenges for businesses already in Europe are import taxes/tariffs and logistics costs.
Key European Markets for Indonesian SMEs
The Netherlands, Germany, and France emerge as the most important markets for Indonesian SMEs. Around 25% of Indonesian SMEs entered Europe through the Netherlands, reflecting historical trade ties, while 68% currently export to the Netherlands and Germany, and 63% to France. These markets are expected to continue leading growth over the next one to two years.
In contrast, across the wider Asia Pacific region, the United Kingdom leads as the primary gateway to Europe (31%), followed by Germany and France (18% each).
For 57% of Indonesian SMEs, sustainability considerations play a strong role in logistics and supply chain choices when conducting business with European partners, signaling a shift toward greener and more responsible trade practices.
Digital Transformation as a Key Enabler
Unlike other APAC markets that focus on cost efficiency, Indonesian SMEs are prioritizing digital transformation to boost trade with Europe, with nearly half (49%) considering it critical. This demonstrates a broader move by Indonesian SMEs to lay the groundwork for sustained, tech-enabled export growth.
Indonesian SMEs are prioritizing three key areas to strengthen trade with Europe. These are:
- 38% seek accessing cost-effective logistics solutions
- 37% aim to leverage digital tools for smarter supply chain management
- 37% focus on gaining market intelligence and insights to navigate Europe’s complex trade environment
Meeting Asia-Europe Demand with Capacity, Reliability and Intelligence
To better support surging trade growth, FedEx added five weekly flights connecting Asia to Europe this month. Additionally, FedEx enhanced connectivity between Vietnam to Europe reducing shipment time by one day. FedEx now operates 26 weekly flights connecting APAC shipments to Europe, delivering express shipments to major European destinations in as little as 48 hours.
The company’s integrated air-and-road network is one of the fastest in Europe, enabling quick deliveries across the region. Anchored by key logistics hubs in Paris, France and Liege, Belgium, the network supports over 550 pick-up and delivery stations across 45 countries and territories and facilitates the sorting of more than two million packages every day.
FedEx also offers a broad portfolio of smart digital solutions and specialized trade expertise to simplify cross-border commerce. Customers can streamline customs declarations by uploading Electronic Trade Documents digitally to help ensure timely delivery while the FedEx Import Tool allows users to track clearance status, receive real-time notifications, and download required documents on demand. The FedEx Go-To Europe Hub is an always-on resource with multimedia resources, trade guidelines, and local market insights, equipping APAC businesses shipping to Europe with the knowledge and tools they need to confidently expand and compete across borders.
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About the Survey
This online survey was conducted by Milieu Insight in September 2025 across 13 Asia Pacific markets including Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and by Mortar Research across 9 European markets including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Turkey, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Belgium and Germany. The survey gathered insights from 1,205 European engaged in international trade, alongside 850 Asia Pacific SMEs who actively trade with Europe.
Click here to download the full report.
About Federal Express Corporation
Federal Express Corporation is one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. Federal Express Corporation uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments by a definite time and date.
APPENDIX
European SMEs view on APAC
The survey also explored European businesses’ perspectives toward Asia Pacific, revealing mutual confidence in the trade relationship:
- 41% of European businesses cite the need for more advanced digital tools to enhance supply chain visibility and speed.
- 41% of European SMEs seek deeper customs expertise to better navigate regulatory complexity and cost pressures.
- European businesses are drawn to APAC due to strategic prospects, comprehensive logistics solutions, and favorable trade agreements. This trend is reflected in the confidence among European SMEs, with 87% of businesses shifting their balance of trade towards APAC or maintaining current levels.
- China (55%), Japan (36%) and South Korea (24%) were seen as among the top growth markets over the next two years.
This reciprocal optimism underscores the strong Asia–Europe trade lane, which has recorded 30 consecutive months of growth as of August 2025, demonstrating sustained momentum for businesses of all sizes.