Marine products, betel nut, sugar and rice are emerging as the core commodities under the proposed Aceh-Andaman Direct Trading Program, as preparations continue for a direct maritime link between Sabang in Indonesia’s Aceh province and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The initial commodity basket being structured for the route reflects a focus on goods with predictable demand and established production capacity on either side of the Andaman Sea.
From the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, fish and marine products have been identified as key outbound cargo, leveraging existing cold-chain facilities at Campbell Bay and Sabang. Coconut and value-added coconut products from the Nicobar group of islands are also part of the planned exports, with officials citing steady monthly production potential, particularly from areas around Great Nicobar. These items are expected to move through regular sailings once the short-distance sea corridor is operationalised.
Essential food commodities from mainland India have been positioned as major contributors to the trade flow toward Aceh. Sugar and rice, in particular, have been flagged as high-consumption items, with estimated demand pegged at around 300 tonnes per month for sugar and approximately 500 tonnes per month for rice. Pulses, onions, garlic, textiles and jute materials have also been identified as likely cargo, expected to transit through the islands using the Sabang-Campbell Bay route and the existing inter-island shipping network.
On the Indonesian side, Sabang is expected to supply betel nut in both whole and split forms, along with cloves, nutmeg and other spices that are in regular demand across the islands. Fast-moving consumer goods, fishing equipment and souvenir items have also been listed, alongside aggregate stone intended for construction activity in Campbell Bay, a category that assumes added significance given ongoing and proposed infrastructure works in Great Nicobar.
The trade plan takes into account existing handling and transport constraints. Marine products from the islands are proposed to be shipped in fibre boxes, while bulk and agricultural commodities would be handled through Sabang’s port infrastructure, which includes container berths, warehousing and cold storage facilities. The identified cargo mix has been designed to fit the capacity of medium-sized wooden motor vessels proposed for the route, with the aim of keeping freight costs and transit times commercially viable.
Officials involved in the discussions say that prioritising high-volume, regularly consumed commodities is intended to ensure steady cargo movement in the initial phase, rather than irregular or speculative shipments. By anchoring the corridor around marine products, essential food grains and region-specific agricultural goods such as betel nut, the route is being positioned as a functional trade link rather than a pilot-only initiative.
With Campbell Bay envisaged as a collection and transit hub and Sabang operating as a free port and free trade zone, the proposed commodity flow is expected to strengthen practical trade ties between the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, mainland India and Indonesia, while capitalising on geographic proximity that has remained largely underutilised until now.
