Lang
Indonesia posted double-digit growth in palm oil exports last year, with shipments to Indian markets continuing to drive the increase, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Agency.
Indonesia's total exports of crude palm oil (CPO) and its derivatives reached $21.63 billion between January and November 2025, up from $18.15 billion in the same eleven-month period of 2024.
"This represents a 19.15% increase in our palm oil exports," said Pudji Ismartini, deputy head of the Central Statistics Agency, at a press conference on Monday.
The volume of CPO and derivative exports climbed 4.32%, rising from 19.99 million tonnes to 20.85 million tonnes over the same period. Palm oil is used in nearly half of all packaged products found on supermarket shelves, and Indonesia is the world's largest producer of the commodity.
Products falling under the oils and fats (animal/vegetable) category were the main driver of Indonesia's positive non-oil trade balance. This sub-category, which includes palm oil, posted a surplus of $30.29 billion in 2025 through November. Around $3.07 billion of that vegetable oil surplus came from exports to India, which relies heavily on Indonesia for its crude palm oil supplies. Indonesia also recorded a $930 million surplus in palm oil trade with the Philippines.
Ismartini added: "In November alone, palm oil export volume reached 1.36 million tonnes, down 28.86% year-on-year," without disclosing the financial value for that period.
Rising palm oil shipments have allowed Indonesia to maintain an unbroken run of trade surpluses for 67 consecutive months since May 2020. Global palm oil prices averaged around $970.36 per metric tonne in November, down 6.52% month-on-month and 16.96% year-on-year.
Indonesian palm oil is set to receive preferential tariff rates "close to 0%" upon entry into the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Russia-led, $2.56 trillion trade bloc, with implementation likely to begin in 2027.
Jakarta has also reported success in persuading the US government to scrap the 19% reciprocal tariff on Indonesian palm oil. The Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (Gapki) told the Jakarta Globe that this could provide a strong boost to palm oil shipments bound for the United States, which have been on a steady upward trend over the past five years.
Source: Jakarta Globe