Trade surplus hits $2.59b in July as commodity prices rise

Indonesia’s trade surplus rose 19.8 percent annually to $2.59 billion in July, the second-highest level this year, after May, as high commodity prices buoyed exports, official data show. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reported on Wednesday that exports reached $17.7 billion in July, up 29.3 percent year-on-year (yoy), buoyed by rising prices of commodities such as coal,…

Improving sustainable Indonesian palm oil

The global concerns about sustainability are steadily rising. Many countries are working to prevent climate change. Various targets have been set to minimize the effects of global warming. As a result, the issuance of green bonds has increased rapidly in recent years. Investment managers are also beginning to gradually reduce high carbon-producing sectors, such as…

Indonesia succeeds as biodiesel pioneer: ESDM Ministry

Achievement of the B30 biodiesel development program demonstrates Indonesia’s success as a B30 pioneer, Dadan Kusdiana, Director General of New, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM), said. “Our provision and utilization of biodiesel have made us the world’s leader in B30 implementation,” he affirmed here on Monday.…

Turning palm oil waste to wealth

An agriculture, the so-called waste is not wasted. The Chief Executive, Golden Seed Fats and Oils Limited,Lanre Sam-Akinkunmi, is proving this. He has explored every part of the palm tree. These include the empty fruit bunches (EFB), mesocarp fibres, palm kernel shells, and also the fronds and trunks. Though he keeps palm kernel shells left over…

ISPO, Smallholders, and Sustainable Development

Oil palm smallholders are on the path towards sustainability with Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification. And palm oil critics should take note of this. The Indonesian palm oil community is well aware of how these smallholders serve as a backbone to the country’s palm oil output. Smallholders produce more than 40 percent of the…

Palm oil exports reach decade high: Gapki

The value of Indonesian palm oil product exports reached a decade high in May as commodity prices rose in line with the economic recovery seen in numerous developed and emerging economies. The average price of crude palm oil (CPO) on the Rotterdam market in terms of cost, insurance and freight (CIF) similarly reached a decade…

When in doubt, palm oil

Amid Covid-uncertainty and a massive second wave, Indonesia decided to double down on what its export economy does best: palm oil. An export tariff cut came into effect over the weekend. The idea is to make Indonesian palm oil and its derivatives irresistible on the global market. The way the tariff scheme is set up,…

Gov’t Urged to Step Up Palm Oil Negotiations with EU

Market restrictions in the European Union continue to become the main hurdle for Indonesian palm oil exports for the last three years despite ongoing negotiations and efforts at the World Trade Organization, the industry association said on Thursday. The government has since 2019 engaged in negotiations with the EU and lodged a complaint with the…

EU should end discriminatory measures against Indonesia’s palm oil

Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi earnestly appealed to the European Union (EU) to avoid discriminating against Indonesian palm oil, as the Southeast Asian nation was endeavoring to achieve economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Indonesia’s request is simple that fair treatment be given to Indonesian palm oil,” Marsudi remarked during a virtual press statement after…

Product awareness: Sunscreen and palm oil

Bridging World Earth Day on April 22 and World Ocean’s Day on June 8 the Chronicle aims to run a series of articles that hope to help address the various ways people can ‘Restore Our Earth’, this week it’s everyday product awareness. Chronicle reporter Eyleen Gomez looks into the environmental impact of sunscreen and palm…