PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – Beneath the lush canopy of palm trees spread across Indonesia’s tropical landscape lies a powerful economic story. February 2025 marked a pivotal moment for the nation’s palm oil industry, as exports surged impressively—like a sailboat catching the perfect wind—carrying the scent of this prized commodity to global shores.
Mukti Sardjono, Executive Director of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), reported a striking rise in exports. Indonesia shipped out 2.803 million tons of palm oil in February, a significant jump of 843 thousand tons from January’s 1.960 million tons. This leap reflects more than just numbers—it underscores the strong appeal of Indonesian palm oil in the international market.
Processed palm oil products were the top drivers of growth, climbing from 1.449 million tons in January to 2.079 million tons in February—a 43.5% increase. Crude palm oil (CPO) exports also rose sharply, from 39 thousand tons to 246 thousand tons. While oleochemical exports dipped slightly—down 6.2% from 388 thousand tons to 364 thousand tons—the overall outlook remained positive.
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India emerged as the largest growth market, with exports skyrocketing from 112 thousand tons to 387 thousand tons—a massive 245% surge. Pakistan followed closely, increasing imports from 178 thousand tons to 361 thousand tons. Significant growth was also seen in Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, and the European Union.
“However, not all destinations showed the same enthusiasm. Palm oil exports to Russia, the United States, and Egypt experienced declines,” Mukti noted in an official statement received by Palmoilmagazine.com on Saturday (May 3, 2025). This serves as a reminder of the global market’s ever-changing nature and ongoing challenges.
The surge in exports was not only about volume. Export value rose by 40%, from US$2.274 billion (around Rp36 trillion) in January to US$3.192 billion (Rp52 trillion) in February. This boost was driven by rising global CPO prices—from US$1,208 to US$1,232 per ton—and the weakening of the Indonesian rupiah against the US dollar.
With both domestic consumption and exports increasing, end-of-month stockpiles also dropped—from 2.936 million tons in January to 2.249 million tons in February, a reduction of 753 thousand tons.
Amid global uncertainties and production challenges, Indonesia’s palm oil exports continue to shine—crossing oceans, breaking barriers, and proving that from the heart of the tropics, Indonesia still stands strong on the world stage. (P2)
