PALMOILMAGAZINE, TANGERANG – In response to challenges in palm oil exports, particularly regarding the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the Ministry of Trade has urged planters to stay optimistic and seize opportunities from rising global demand for derivative products like cosmetics, oleochemicals, and biodiesel.
“When facing challenges, planters should recognize the opportunities. Often, these opportunities increase competition for Indonesian palm oil products worldwide,” stated Dandy Satria Iswara, Trade Ministry Expert Staff for International Relations, in an official statement quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com on Monday, October 14, 2024.
Iswara made the remarks during an event organized by the Ministry of Trade and the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (PFMA), attended by trade representatives from numerous countries. The event coincided with the 39th Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI), held from October 9 to 12, 2024.
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He explained that the EUDR aims to reduce global deforestation by regulating imports of commodities that contribute to it, including palm oil. To remain competitive in the EU market, exporters must ensure full traceability of their products.
Dandy also mentioned that the export chance would remain still to other countries. “In 2022 our palm oil derivative exports significantly got escalated in some countries, such as, Philippine, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey,” he said.
To maintain the market competition in the world, the government adopted the new sustainability standards through Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) to confirm that palm oil products from Indonesia would qualify international scale sustainability standards and would always compete to many countries where they concerned about sustainability.
“This should solve the challenges, increase the market access, and get the new countries to sell palm oil and its derivative products,” he said.
Ministry of Trade would always be committed to support national scale palm oil exports by publishing many regulations, such as, the Regulation of Minister of Trade (RMT) Number 23 / 2023 and Number 50 / 2022. Besides, the government would always promote palm oil products to many new countries, expand international scale cooperation, confirm that palm oil products from Indonesia qualified sustainability standards in global scale.
One significant strategic in the promotion would be about palm oil branding from Indonesia through digital platforms, international scale promotion, and the support from trade representative in many countries. Dandy emphasized that the synergy among the government, the industries, academy and others would be very significant to face every challenge in the globe.
“We are optimist with your supports, Indonesia would maintain its position as the biggest palm oil exporter and keep increasing its competition in the world,” he said.
Head of Civil Society Division PO PFMA, Aida Fitria said that the agency would keep encouraging the research and innovation to make palm oil industries go forward. It would also reinforce the synergy between the downstream and upstream sectors and would escalate the people’s economy.
“The will to conduct palm oil research should be from the early age namely in the student levels to realize palm oil industries tough and sustainable nationally,” Aida said. (P2)
