Indonesia Reclaims 6.2 Million Hectares of Forest Areas Linked to Oil Palm Plantations

Attorney General ST Burhanuddin, who also serves as Deputy Chair I of the task force’s steering committee, announced the achievement during a briefing at the Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. “Since its establishment in February 2025, the task force has successfully reclaimed 6,206,212.14 hectares of forest areas. In the mining sector, it has reclaimed 14,633.79 hectares,” Burhanuddin said. 259,000 Hectares Transferred to Forestry Ministry During its eighth enforcement phase, Satgas PKH transferred 259,230.73 hectares of forest areas to the Ministry of Forestry. Of this total, 140,762.04 hectares are slated to be handed over to state-owned PT Agrinas...

India Turns to Palm Oil as Russian Sunflower Oil Shipments Disrupted by War

A cargo of around 20,000 tonnes of Russian sunflower oil bound for India was cancelled after damage to port infrastructure in the Black Sea region prevented the supplier from fulfilling the shipment. A further 60,000 tonnes of sunflower oil destined for India have also faced delays. Sandeep Bajoria, president of the International Sunflower Oil Association and chief executive of Mumbai-based Sunvin Group, said cancellations of sunflower oil shipments were unusual in the market. “Washouts of this kind are rare. But Black Sea infrastructure is now being damaged by the war,” Bajoria said, as reported by Reuters and published by on...

Indonesia Faces Potential 27 Million-Tonne Palm Oil Supply Deficit by 2045

Bandung Sahari, head of communications at the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), said the industry contributes to the national economy through more than crude palm oil (CPO), with its derivatives serving the food, industrial and energy sectors. Indonesia produces approximately 49 million metric tonnes (MT) of the world’s estimated 85 million MT of palm oil, accounting for around 58% of global output. Bandung also noted that Indonesia supplies approximately 22% of global vegetable oil. However, without significant production growth, Indonesia could face a palm oil supply deficit of up to 27 million MT as it seeks to meet domestic demand...

Indonesia Palm Oil Exports Fall in July as Shipments to India and Russia Slump

The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) recorded total exports of palm oil products at 3.188 million tonnes in July, down 2.67% from 3.275 million tonnes in June. Executive Director of GAPKI, Mukti Sardjono, said the decline was reflected across several product categories. CPO exports fell 25.70% to 249,000 tonnes, from 335,000 tonnes in June. Exports of processed palm oil products declined 2.57% to 2.296 million tonnes, while shipments of processed palm kernel oil products fell 14.60% to 99,000 tonnes. Oleochemical exports, however, provided some support, rising 14.94% to 537,000 tonnes from 467,000 tonnes a month earlier. “In the midst of...

Indonesia Explores Palm-Based Alternatives to Soybean Meal in Poultry Feed

Makmun, Director of Livestock Downstreaming at the Ministry of Agriculture, said palm-based ingredients could help reduce SBM imports if their share in feed formulations could be raised to more than 10%. “If it can exceed 10%, it would reduce our SBM imports, as these could be substituted with palm-based materials. Hopefully, the research can move faster,” Makmun said during a regional inflation control coordination meeting in 2026, monitored through the Ministry of Home Affairs’ official YouTube channel on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. According to information reported by , the use of palm-based materials in poultry feed remains limited, partly because...

US Blocks Palm Oil Imports from Indonesia’s MAR and HIP Over Forced Labor Concerns

Under the orders, CBP officers at US ports of entry will detain shipments covered by the restrictions. The agency said its decision followed a review of evidence indicating reasonable grounds to suspect that forced labor had been used in the production of palm oil and related products from the two companies. “Mengeksploitasi pekerja adalah tindakan yang tidak manusiawi serta merugikan keamanan ekonomi dan nasional kita,” said Susan S. Thomas, Executive Assistant Commissioner of CBP’s Office of Trade, as reported by , citing Kompas on Monday (October 5, 2026). Thomas warned that labor exploitation extends beyond workplace conditions, potentially harming workers...

176 South Sumatra Smallholders Join Oil Palm Cultivation Training to Boost Productivity

Against this backdrop, 176 smallholders from Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Regency in South Sumatra participated in an oil palm cultivation training programme held in Palembang from September 29 to October 4, 2026. According to , citing an official statement received on Sunday, October 4, the programme was organised through a collaboration between Indonesia’s Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP), the Directorate General of Plantations and IPB Training. OKU has approximately 72,900 hectares of oil palm plantations, most of which are managed by smallholders. The extensive plantation area represents a significant economic asset for the region, but improving output depends heavily on...

Danantara Tests NADI Digital Platform to Strengthen Oversight of Palm Oil Exports

The pilot brings together industry associations and government institutions to test processes, gather feedback and refine the system before further development. In a statement received by on Saturday, October 3, 2026, DSI said the initiative was designed to support a more integrated export ecosystem. Six industry associations are participating in the pilot: the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI-ICMA), the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), the Indonesian Vegetable Oil Industry Association (GIMNI), the Indonesian Oleochemical Producers Association (FINI), the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO) and the Indonesian Mining Association (IMA). Government participants include the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, the Ministry of...

Indian Coast Guard Rescues 23 Crew From Tanker Carrying 9,000 Tons of Palm Oil

The incident involved the MT Seagull 9, which issued a distress signal before Indian authorities launched a rescue and stabilization operation. The vessel was subsequently brought under control and towed toward Paradip under the escort of Indian Coast Guard units. According to information reported by Times of India and republished by , the operation took place on Monday, with specialized personnel deployed aboard the tanker to address the emergency. The Indian Coast Guard's Damage Control Team used submersible pumps to remove water from the vessel's ballast tanks. The team also worked to seal damaged sea pipelines in an effort to...

Pekanbaru Develops Sustainable Palm Oil Action Plan for 24,000 Hectares

The sizeable plantation area is now becoming a focus of the Pekanbaru municipal government as it prepares a Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Palm Oil, or Rencana Aksi Daerah Kelapa Sawit Berkelanjutan (RAD-KSB). The initiative is intended to ensure that the development of the palm oil sector contributes to long-term economic growth while maintaining environmental sustainability. Pekanbaru Deputy Mayor Markarius Anwar said the city's estimated 24,000 hectares of oil palm plantations represented an important economic asset for both the regional economy and local communities. Markarius made the statement while opening a RAD-KSB socialization event organized by the Pekanbaru Agriculture and...

Indonesia Agrarian Reform Law Raises Regulatory Questions for Malaysian Palm Oil Firms

The law, approved by Indonesia’s House of Representatives on September 22, 2026, introduces a framework for restructuring land ownership and control, strengthening land redistribution and improving mechanisms for resolving agrarian conflicts. However, the practical impact on plantation companies remains unclear because several implementing regulations have yet to be issued. According to KLSE Screener, Public Investment Bank analyst Chong Hoe Leong said the new regulation could add to the regulatory challenges facing Malaysian plantation companies after the sector encountered land-related issues and significant penalties in Indonesia over the past year. 20% Land Provision Draws Attention One provision being closely watched by...

Indonesia’s Agrarian Reform Law and the Outlook for Palm Oil Investment

The legislation was approved relatively quickly, raising questions over the depth of deliberations and the extent to which public participation and the interests of affected communities were accommodated during the legislative process. These issues are particularly important given the scale of land governed by agrarian policy and the economic value of Indonesia's plantation sector. Indonesia's palm oil industry remains closely tied to land-use certainty. The sector generates significant foreign exchange and provides livelihoods for millions of people. Its long-term development therefore depends not only on land governance that is fair, but also on rules that are predictable for businesses and...

Politeknik Sawit CWE Graduates Poised to Drive Indonesia’s Palm Oil Industry Toward 2045

That message was highlighted by Nugroho Kristono, Director of Politeknik Kelapa Sawit Citra Widya Edukasi (Poltek Sawit CWE), during the graduation ceremony for the institution’s fourth cohort of Applied Bachelor graduates and 18th cohort of Associate Degree graduates in Bekasi, West Java, on Sunday (Sept 27, 2026). The ceremony marked the graduation of 248 students from five study programs, with graduates expected to enter the industry equipped not only with technical skills but also with the ability to contribute through innovation and professional expertise. Nugroho said graduation should not be viewed as the end of the learning process. As plantation...

PURAKA Warns of Legal and Livelihood Risks for Smallholders After Palm Oil Land Repossession

The Center for Law and Conflict Resolution (PURAKA) has warned that smallholders could face a range of risks after plantations taken over through the government’s forest-area enforcement process are handed over for management by state-owned Agrinas Palma Nusantara. According to PURAKA Head Ahmad Zazali, as presented on Thursday (September 24, 2026), the issues following repossession extend beyond asset control. They include legal certainty, governance, community rights, environmental protection and the sustainability of farmers’ livelihoods. PURAKA describes the process as involving several stages, beginning with plantations or forest areas identified as problematic, followed by repossession by the Forest Area Task Force...

Female Sumatran Tapir Rescued from Drainage Canal at Palm Oil Plantation in Mesuji

The protected animal was evacuated on Monday, September 21, 2026, by the Bengkulu Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), together with local authorities, police, the plantation company and surrounding communities. According to an official statement obtained by from BKSDA Bengkulu, the tapir was first spotted by PT PAL workers on Sunday morning at around 8 a.m. The animal was moving through an area dominated by oil palms, rubber trees and shrubs. By around 2 p.m., the tapir had fallen into a drainage canal and was unable to climb out on its own. The rescue operation was subsequently carried out with consideration...

Indonesian Smallholders Push for Agrarian Reform and Greater Access to Palm Oil Downstreaming

The demands emerged from the Second National Smallholder Plantation Conference, held under the theme “Building Sustainable Smallholder Palm Plantations Based on Agrarian Reform and Smallholder Cooperatives.” The forum brought together smallholder representatives from various parts of Indonesia. The conference was initiated by the Indonesian Farmers Union (SPI), Indonesian Farmers Alliance (API), Indonesian Human Rights Committee for Social Justice (IHCS), Indonesian Palm Oil Farmers Organization (POPSI), Sawit Watch and the Indonesian Oil Palm Farmers Union (SPKS). The event, opened by Cooperatives Minister Ferry Joko Juliantono, discussed agrarian reform, protection of smallholders’ managed land during forest-area restructuring and the strengthening of cooperatives...

BRIN and Sumitomo Develop 100% EFB Boiler Technology to Turn Palm Waste into Biomass Energy

According to information obtained by from BRIN, the collaboration is developing technology that could enable boilers to operate using up to 100% EFB as fuel, without requiring fossil fuels or other biomass materials as a mixture. The research covers several stages, including fuel upgrading, combustion-characteristic testing and boiler design development tailored to the properties of EFB. BRIN’s Head of the Energy Conversion Research Center, Tata Sutardi, said direct utilization of EFB still faces several technical challenges. The material has relatively low calorific value, while its moisture, alkali and chlorine content are relatively high. These characteristics can affect combustion efficiency and...

SPKS Calls for Agrarian Reform Bill to Strengthen Land Rights for Oil Palm Smallholders

According to information received by from SPKS on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the organization said the Agrarian Reform Bill should serve as an instrument to implement and strengthen the mandate of Law No. 5 of 1960 on Basic Agrarian Principles. SPKS said agrarian reform should not be viewed solely as a matter of land administration or land redistribution. The organization also links the policy to changes in agrarian structures, greater certainty over community land rights, reducing inequality in land control, resolving conflicts and maintaining local livelihoods. SPKS Highlights Smallholder Plantations in Forest Areas One of the issues raised by SPKS...

Prabowo Calls Palm Oil a “Miracle Crop” as Indonesia Expands Biofuel Ambitions

Prabowo made the remarks during the thanksgiving reception marking the 100th anniversary of Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor in Ponorogo, East Java, on Saturday, September 19, 2026. In his speech, Prabowo pointed to Indonesia’s ability to produce diesel fuel from palm oil as an example of how the country’s plantation resources can be converted into energy. “Alhamdulillah kita sudah bisa produksi solar dari kelapa sawit,” Prabowo said. The President described palm oil as a crop with broad applications, referring to it as a miracle crop because of the variety of products that can be derived from it. According to Prabowo, palm...

Palm Oil Companies Urged to Detect Early Signs of Harvester Turnover

Harry Agug Pratama, Dept Head of HR Business Partner & Organisation Development at PT Pasifik Agro Sentosa, said the company has developed a monitoring system as part of its efforts to retain harvesters. He shared the approach during IPS Planter Talks 2026 Series 1, themed “Palm Oil Human Resources Emergency,” held on Saturday (September 19, 2026). Rather than waiting until a shortage occurs and then recruiting new workers, companies also need to monitor their existing workforce, Harry explained. Changes in employee behavior can provide an indication that a worker may be considering leaving the company. Attendance is one of the...