BPDP Training Equips Aceh Singkil Smallholders with Modern Oil Palm Cultivation Skills

The six-day Technical Oil Palm Cultivation Training was conducted under the Palm Oil Human Resources Development Program (SDM PKS), funded by the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) in collaboration with the Directorate General of Plantations (Ditjenbun). The program was organized by PT Koompasia Enviro Institute and held in Medan from July 6–11, 2026. Participants completed 48 hours of classroom and field instruction, covering key aspects of oil palm management, including land suitability assessment, land preparation, certified seed selection, nursery management, maintenance of immature and mature palms, integrated pest and disease control, and balanced fertilization. The training also incorporated...

Indonesia’s B50 Biodiesel Push Requires Careful Execution to Safeguard Palm Oil Industry, Editorial Says

As the world's largest producer of crude palm oil (CPO), Indonesia has transformed its palm oil industry from a commodity exporter into a major supplier of value-added downstream products. Over the past five years, national CPO production has climbed from around 40 million tons in 2020 to approximately 51.66 million tons in 2025, highlighting the sector's rapid expansion. The government's biodiesel blending program has become one of the main drivers of that transformation. Since its introduction at B2.5 in 2008, the mandate has progressively expanded through B40 and officially entered the B50 era on July 1, 2026, significantly increasing domestic...

IPOSS: Domestic Demand to Reshape Indonesia’s Palm Oil Industry as B50 Tightens National CPO Supply

In its Indonesia Palm Oil Industry Outlook Q3 2026, titled "Strengthening the Domestic Market as the Driver of Global Palm Oil", IPOSS projects that the nationwide rollout of the B50 biodiesel mandate, effective from July 1, 2026, will substantially boost palm oil demand from the domestic energy sector. The report forecasts that Indonesia will produce only around 11.1 million metric tons of crude palm oil (CPO) and crude palm kernel oil (CPKO) during the July–September period, representing a decline of approximately 3 million tons compared with the same quarter last year. Lower production is expected to be most pronounced in...

Sinar Mas Agribusiness Strengthens Palm Replanting Program to Boost Smallholder Productivity and Sustainability

Through an integrated assistance program, Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food is helping partner farmers gain access to government replanting funds, improve institutional capacity, meet sustainability standards, and expand opportunities in domestic and international markets. Muhammad Iqbal, Head of Strategic PSR at Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, said the company actively assists smallholders in accessing PSR financing provided by Indonesia's Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP). The initiative supports the government's broader objectives of strengthening national food and energy security while increasing Indonesia's crude palm oil (CPO) production. Beyond facilitating grant applications, the company also helps farmers strengthen their organizations...

Aceh Singkil Expands Palm Oil Smallholder Training Program as Demand for Capacity Building Grows

The six-day training, held on July 6–11, 2026, at Hotel AIHO Medan, was funded by Indonesia’s Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) in collaboration with the Directorate General of Plantations under the Ministry of Agriculture. The program was organized by PT Koompasia Enviro Institute to strengthen farmers' technical skills and promote more productive, efficient, and sustainable palm oil cultivation. A total of 93 participants were divided into three training batches of 31 farmers each. Throughout the program, participants completed 48 hours of intensive classroom instruction, group discussions, simulations, and field practice. Acting Head of the Aceh Singkil Agriculture and...

Indonesia Tightens Palm Cooking Oil Supply Rules, Producers Required to Prioritize Domestic Market

According to the regulation reviewed by on Monday (July 13, 2026), the policy is designed to maintain stable supplies of packaged palm cooking oil while improving distribution across the country and preventing shortages at the consumer level. One of the key amendments is the introduction of Article 4A, which explicitly requires every producer to allocate packaged palm cooking oil to meet domestic household consumption. The provision reinforces producers' responsibility in safeguarding national cooking oil supplies. The government has also strengthened enforcement mechanisms through Article 30A. Producers failing to meet their domestic supply obligations during periods of shortage will face administrative...

CPOPC Expands Global Palm Oil Alliance as Costa Rica Joins as Observer Nation

These strategic initiatives were among the key outcomes of the 31st Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), held in Jakarta on June 29, 2026, in a hybrid format. The meeting was chaired by Dida Gardera, Senior Advisor for Connectivity and Services at Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, and attended by representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Observer countries Ghana and Nigeria also participated, reaffirming their commitment to becoming full CPOPC members in the future. One of the meeting's major decisions was the approval of Costa Rica's application to become an observer country. The...

RSPO: Sustainable Palm Oil Training Requires Trust as Much as Technical Knowledge

As reported by from RSPO on Saturday (July 11), Master Trainers participating in the academy agreed that translating complex sustainability standards into practical farming techniques remains one of the greatest challenges in supporting independent smallholders. Although many trainers possess strong technical backgrounds, they acknowledged that successful capacity building depends largely on interpersonal skills, including understanding local culture, communicating effectively, and encouraging behavioral change among farmers who have often followed traditional practices for decades. Indonesian Master Trainer Sarjan Alatas said working with independent smallholders requires greater patience and a more tailored approach than working with organized farmer groups. "Independent smallholders usually...

Merangin Backs Indonesia's B50 Biodiesel Program to Accelerate Palm Oil Downstream Development

The commitment was conveyed by Merangin Regent H. M. Syukur after attending the AKPSI Workshop and Palm Oil Expo 2026, themed "Palm Oil for the People," held in South Jakarta. The event brought together regional governments, industry stakeholders, smallholders, and state-owned enterprises to discuss the future of Indonesia's palm oil sector. According to an official statement obtained by on Friday (July 10), Syukur said the B50 mandate—which blends 50% palm-based biodiesel with 50% conventional diesel fuel—will play a vital role in reducing Indonesia's dependence on imported fossil fuels while creating greater added value for domestically produced palm oil. He emphasized...

Indonesia Prioritizes Productivity, Downstream Development, and Smallholder Empowerment in 2026 Palm Oil Policy

According to , citing the "Ngobrol Sawit 2026" webinar held in Jakarta on Tuesday (July 7), Ali Jamil emphasized that the palm oil sector remains one of Indonesia's most strategic industries, supporting economic growth, employment, food security, and energy resilience. Indonesia currently manages approximately 16.83 million hectares of oil palm plantations, producing around 45.4 million tonnes of crude palm oil (CPO), making the country the world's largest palm oil producer. Beyond production, the industry contributes significantly to the national economy, generating approximately US$22.85 billion in export earnings from 32.34 million tonnes of exports. The sector also provides employment for around...

AKPSI National Meeting: Gorontalo Pledges Stronger Palm Oil Downstream Industry Through Cross-Sector Partnerships

The commitment was conveyed by Deputy Regent Tonny S. Junus during the 2026 National Working Meeting (Rakernas) and Workshop of the Association of Indonesian Palm Oil Producing Regencies (AKPSI), held at Bidakara Hotel in South Jakarta on Tuesday. Carrying the theme "Palm Oil for the People," the annual gathering brought together central and regional government representatives to align strategies for strengthening Indonesia's sustainable palm oil sector while enhancing the value-added potential of one of the country's leading agricultural commodities. Speaking during the event, Tonny emphasized that Gorontalo is ready to play a greater role in expanding downstream palm oil industries...

Modi's Indonesia Visit Highlights Strategic Trade Ties as Palm Oil Remains a Key Export Commodity

According to a report by Rubix Data Sciences, Indonesia remained India's second-largest trading partner in ASEAN during the 2026 fiscal year (FY2026), with bilateral merchandise trade valued at US$24.8 billion. Singapore retained the top position with total trade reaching US$36.1 billion. As reported by news18.com and cited by , overall trade between the two countries has moderated in recent years. Merchandise trade declined from US$38.8 billion in FY2023 to US$24.8 billion in FY2026, reflecting a compound annual decline of approximately 14%. The slowdown was largely driven by a sharp contraction in India's exports to Indonesia, which dropped from US$10 billion...

Indonesia Tightens Environmental Oversight with New Regulation, Raising Compliance Bar for Palm Oil Industry

According to the regulation obtained by on Monday (July 6, 2026), the new policy replaces Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 14 of 2024, which is considered no longer aligned with the latest legislative developments. The government said the updated framework aims to improve environmental supervision through greater transparency, efficiency, effectiveness, and legal certainty for businesses. The regulation is particularly significant for Indonesia's palm oil sector, where plantation companies and processing mills are required to comply with a wide range of environmental obligations, including environmental approvals, wastewater treatment, emission control, waste management, and continuous implementation of environmental management and...

Palm Oil Maintains Key Role as Indonesia's Non-Oil Trade Surplus Reaches US$16.31 Billion

Although Indonesia recorded a trade deficit of US$1.61 billion in May 2026, cumulative trade data for January–May 2026 still showed an overall trade surplus of US$4.03 billion, driven largely by the country's strong non-oil and gas export performance. Trade Minister Budi Santoso said Indonesia's non-oil sector continues to serve as the backbone of the country's export performance. "Although Indonesia recorded a trade deficit in May 2026, cumulatively the country still posted a surplus. This demonstrates the resilience of Indonesia's non-oil trade amid global economic challenges," Budi said in an official statement quoted by on Sunday (July 5, 2026). According to...

Indonesia Eyes Stronger Palm Oil Exports to Belarus Through Expanding Eurasian Trade Partnership

The commitment was reaffirmed during the Indonesia–Belarus Business Forum and Business Matching, held in Jakarta, where government officials and business leaders explored new opportunities for trade, investment, and industrial collaboration. Organized by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) and the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BelCCI), the forum served as a platform for strengthening business-to-business partnerships while promoting Indonesia's leading export commodities, including palm oil and its downstream products. In an official statement received by on Saturday (July 4), Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said Indonesia remains committed to increasing exports of high-value products to...

POPSI Calls for Transparency on Indonesia's Rp600 Trillion Palm Oil Under-Invoicing Claim

The statement follows renewed public debate after Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said Indonesia could be losing between Rp500 trillion and Rp600 trillion in state revenue each year because of under-invoicing practices in the palm oil trade. POPSI Chairman Mansuetus Darto said the organization fully supports government efforts to improve state revenue, strengthen export governance, and enforce the law against proven violations. However, he stressed that any policy overhaul affecting Indonesia's palm oil export system must be supported by transparent and scientifically accountable evidence. "We support stronger law enforcement and efforts to increase state revenue. However, if such claims are...

BRIN Develops Pyrolysis Technology to Turn Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches into Renewable Energy

The initiative is expected to strengthen Indonesia's energy transition while promoting a circular economy by maximizing the utilization of oil palm biomass that has traditionally been underutilized. According to a statement received by on Thursday (July 2, 2026), Dieni Mansur, Head of the Biomass Oil Pyrolysis Research Team at BRIN's Research Center for Molecular Chemistry, said biomass conversion plays a strategic role in reducing the country's dependence on fossil fuels while creating new value from agricultural residues. "Pyrolysis oil is being developed to support Indonesia's energy diversification. Meanwhile, oil palm empty fruit bunches are generated in enormous volumes, making their...

GAPKI: Palm Oil Export Oversight Already Robust, Stronger Law Enforcement Needed

The view was presented by Dr. Yustinus Lambang Setyo Putro, Chairman of GAPKI's Taxation and Fiscal Affairs Division, during an Indonesian Tax Consultants Association (IKPI) webinar titled "Under Invoicing and State Revenue Leakage: Perception or Reality?" Yustinus explained that every palm oil export shipment passes through several layers of supervision before leaving Indonesia. The process includes export approval through the Indonesia National Single Window (INSW), document verification using the Directorate General of Customs and Excise's CEISA system, physical inspections for selected commodities, and foreign exchange monitoring via Bank Indonesia's Integrated Foreign Exchange Monitoring System (SIMODIS). In addition, the tax authority...

Prof Hariyadi Urges Productivity-Driven Palm Oil Growth Through Intensification Instead of Expansion

Speaking during his inaugural professorial lecture on Saturday, Prof. Hariyadi introduced the concept of a “New Nexus”, an integrated framework that combines higher productivity, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation as the foundation for the future development of Indonesia’s palm oil sector. He argued that productivity among independent smallholders remains significantly below its potential, making intensification a more effective strategy than opening new plantations. “Smallholder productivity is still below 60% of its potential. Therefore, expanding plantation areas should not be the primary solution unless it is supported by quality planting materials and proper nutrient management,” Prof. Hariyadi said, according to a...

Palm Oil Mills Without Plantations Could Undermine Indonesia's EUDR Compliance, Researcher Warns

According to an analysis by Dr. Veritia, a researcher in Palm Oil Economics and Management at Pamulang University (Unpam) and Editor-in-Chief of Kabar SDGs, Indonesia's palm oil industry is facing increasingly complex compliance demands from both domestic regulations and export markets. Integrated plantation companies and conventional palm oil mills are required to comply with a broad range of environmental, labor, waste management, and sustainability requirements, including implementation of NDPE (No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation) commitments. At the same time, export markets are tightening traceability requirements. One of the most significant regulations is the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which...