Agrinas Palma Partners with Korean Consortium to Advance Palm Biomass and Green Energy Development

The collaboration opportunity emerged during a business meeting in Jakarta involving Agrinas Palma’s management team and representatives from several South Korean technology and investment firms. Discussions focused on biomass utilization, renewable energy development, and expanding export opportunities for value-added palm-based products. The meeting was led by Agrinas Palma Nusantara President Director Mohammad Abdul Ghani, accompanied by Operations Director Tuhu Bangun and Business Director Nurhidayat. Representatives from the Korean consortium included Park Geoungduk, President Director of PT Astrum Dunia Inovasi; Lim Daetaeg, President Director of Hwasung Tech-Win Co., Ltd.; and Tommy Julius R. L., President Director of PT Siborong Nusa Gemilang....

Palm Oil Futures Slip as Crude Oil and Rival Vegetable Oils Weigh on Market

The benchmark September 2026 palm oil contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange (BMD) fell RM33 per tonne, or 0.72%, to RM4,541 per tonne during the midday trading session. The decline reflected broader weakness across the global commodities complex, particularly in energy and edible oils. Market participants noted that palm oil prices were closely tracking movements in crude oil and rival vegetable oils, which have recently lost momentum amid shifting demand expectations and profit-taking activities. “Palm oil futures are following the weakness seen in crude oil, soybean oil, and the Dalian market today,” a Kuala Lumpur-based trader told Reuters. Pressure...

Minister Amran: The State Must Not Remain Silent When Oil Palm Farmers Are Harmed

Speaking during the Ministerial and Top Executive Lecture Series held as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of IPB University's Faculty of Economics and Management, Amran described the previous decline in FFB prices as an anomaly inconsistent with prevailing global market conditions. The issue emerged during a discussion with students, when IPB Student Executive Board President Abdul Aziz praised the government's progress toward national food self-sufficiency while questioning measures to address volatility in palm oil farmers' incomes. Responding to the inquiry, Amran highlighted Indonesia's recent agricultural achievements, citing data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) showing national rice production at approximately 34.6...

UNJA Secures BPDP Trust Again, Opens 30 Full Scholarships Under Palm Oil Human Resources Program 2026

According to Announcement Number PENG-3/BPDP/2026 dated May 11, 2026, UNJA is among 42 higher education institutions nationwide appointed to deliver the Plantation Human Resources Development Program. The designation marks the second consecutive time the university's D3 Chemical Analysis Program has earned the trust to administer the initiative. Dhian Eka Wijaya, Coordinator of the D3 Chemical Analysis Program at FST UNJA, described the appointment as recognition of the program's educational quality and institutional readiness. "This designation reflects national recognition of our educational governance and the preparedness of our academic resources," Dhian said, as quoted by from UNJA on Tuesday (June 16,...

FORTASBI: Strong Farmer Institutions Key to Sustainable Palm Oil and Generational Renewal

The message was delivered by Rukaiyah Rafik, Board of Governors of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Head of the Secretariat of the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Farmers Forum (FORTASBI), during the RSPO Media Brunch attended by on Friday (12/6/2026). According to Rukaiyah, many support programs for independent oil palm smallholders have focused primarily on fulfilling administrative requirements for financing or certification. However, she emphasized that the real priority should be building strong and resilient farmer organizations. "Farmer groups or cooperatives should not exist solely to obtain loans. They must serve as platforms to strengthen farmers' capacities, enabling...

Smallholders Need More Than Certification: Financing Key to Sustainable Palm Oil Transition

Chairman of KUD Tani Subur, Sutiyana, who is also an independent oil palm smallholder, said the biggest challenge facing farmers today is not a lack of awareness about certification benefits, but limited access to funding. "When discussing certification, farmers often ask a simple question: who will pay for it? Many growers genuinely want to improve their plantations, but they are constrained by financial limitations," Sutiyana said during the RSPO Media Brunch attended by on Friday (12/6/2026). According to him, many smallholder plantations continue to struggle with low productivity due to poor-quality planting materials and suboptimal agronomic practices. At the same...

RSPO Distributed Rp416 Billion to Support Indonesia's Independent Oil Palm Smallholders

According to RSPO data, 41,134 independent Smallholders in Indonesia have participated in sustainability certification programmes covering a total area of 89,650 hectares between 2018 and 2026. Guntur Cahyo Prabowo, Head of Global Smallholders at RSPO, emphasized that certification should not be viewed merely as an audit process or an administrative requirement. Instead, he described it as a strategic instrument for strengthening farmer organizations and ensuring the consistent implementation of sustainability principles. "Certification requires entities or organizations capable of ensuring compliance with standards. At the same time, trust among farmers must be built so they are willing to organize themselves into...

CPOPC Encourages Youth to Become Ambassadors for Sustainable Palm Oil Information

The initiative brings together participants from various countries and equips them with a comprehensive understanding of the palm oil sector, enabling them to become credible sources of information within their communities and social networks. Musdhalifah Machmud, Deputy Secretary-General of CPOPC, said the programme was developed in response to the growing influence of social media in shaping public perceptions, particularly among younger generations. "We invite young people from around the world to gain a better understanding of palm oil. Social media has become one of the main sources of information for today's youth, but much of the information circulating online is...

Indonesia Ensures Palm Oil Exports Continue During Transition to New Export Regulation

Speaking during a public dissemination event on the new export regulation attended by on Tuesday (June 9, 2026), Bayu Wicaksono Putro, Director of Export and Import Facilitation and Acting Director of Agricultural and Forestry Product Exports at the Ministry of Trade, said the new regulation largely retains provisions that were previously stipulated under Permendag No. 26/2024. "The scope of regulated products remains the same as under the previous regulation. These products have already been covered under Permendag No. 26/2024," Bayu said. Under the new framework, the government continues to regulate exports of five categories of palm oil products, namely Crude...

Indonesia Tightens Palm Oil Export Rules Through New Strategic Commodity Regulations

The Ministry of Trade has officially enacted Minister of Trade Regulation No. 16 of 2026, governing the export of palm oil products and derivatives effective June 1, 2026. Trade Minister Budi Santoso said the policy is intended to ensure that exports of strategic commodities are conducted in an orderly, transparent, and accountable manner. "The Ministry of Trade is applying various export control instruments to ensure that strategic natural resource exports are implemented in a transparent, accountable, and legally compliant manner," Budi stated. The regulation forms part of Indonesia's broader strategy to maximize the economic value of its natural resources while...

Bangka Regent Threatens to Revoke PT Sawindo Kencana's Permit Over Unresolved Smallholder Palm Credit Dispute

Bangka Regent Fery Insani delivered the ultimatum during a meeting aimed at accelerating the settlement of KKSR-related loans affecting local oil palm farmers. The company has been given two weeks to attend formal discussions and reach an agreement regarding amendments to existing KKSR arrangements. Fery criticized the company's repeated absence from meetings organized by local authorities, saying the lack of engagement had hampered efforts to find solutions for affected farmers. "The regional government has consistently opened channels for dialogue, yet company leaders have never attended these meetings directly," he said. If no progress is made within the stipulated timeframe, the...

Assessing the Potential of Regenerative Agriculture in Oil Palm Plantations

In a country often perceived as naturally fertile, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Indonesia may have vast land resources, abundant rainfall, and year-round vegetation growth, but beneath that image, many agricultural landscapes are quietly losing their productivity. Dr. Heru Bagus Pulunggono, a lecturer at the Department of Soil Science and Land Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, has observed this trend closely. He begins with a fundamental aspect of Indonesia’s agricultural challenge: the basic characteristics of its soils. According to Heru, most Indonesian soils have moderate to deep soil profiles but are highly acidic. Such conditions...

Indonesia Extends Trade Surplus Streak to 72 Months, Palm Oil Remains Largest Foreign Exchange Earner

Trade Minister Budi Santoso reported that Indonesia posted a trade surplus of US$90 million in April 2026. The result was supported by a non-oil and gas surplus of US$3.53 billion, which offset a US$3.44 billion deficit in the oil and gas sector. “Cumulatively, Indonesia’s trade balance recorded a surplus of US$5.64 billion during January–April 2026. This was driven by a non-oil and gas surplus of US$14.16 billion, despite an oil and gas deficit of US$8.52 billion,” Santoso said in an official statement. Although positive, the four-month surplus remains below the US$11.07 billion recorded during the same period in 2025.  ...

UMM and Bumitama Agro Strengthen Industry-Academia Collaboration to Develop Future Palm Oil Talent

The agreement was signed at UMM’s BAU Hall on May 29, 2026, marking a strategic partnership designed to strengthen human capital development in one of Indonesia’s most important industries. As the world’s largest palm oil producer, Indonesia faces increasing demand for professionals who not only possess strong academic foundations but are also capable of adapting to technological transformation and evolving business requirements. In addition to the signing ceremony, the event featured a guest lecture titled “Level Up Your Career: Employment Opportunities and the Future of the Palm Oil Industry,” attended by students from UMM’s Agrotechnology and Industrial Engineering programs. Through...

Kubu Raya Declares Commitment to Child Labor-Free Palm Oil Industry

The declaration was signed during a coordination meeting on child labor prevention in the agriculture and plantation sectors, held at Bank Kalbar’s Kubu Raya branch on June 2, 2026. The event was officially opened by Deputy Regent Sukiryanto. According to information obtained by from the Kubu Raya Regency Government, local authorities believe that addressing child labor requires more than regulatory enforcement. Instead, the issue must be tackled at its roots to ensure children can enjoy their rights to education, growth, and development. “Today we are holding this coordination meeting to ensure that children are not involved in palm oil plantation...

Indonesian Police Investigate Alleged Palm Oil Export Data Manipulation, Search PT MMS Offices

As part of the investigation, officers from the Directorate of Certain Crimes (Dittipidter) conducted searches at premises linked to PT MMS in an effort to gather additional evidence. Head of Sub-Directorate I of Dittipidter Bareskrim Polri, Senior Commissioner Setyo K. Heriyatno, said the searches were carried out after investigators found sufficient indications to advance the case. The operation took place at two locations: PT MMS’s office in Pademangan, North Jakarta, and a warehouse facility in Pakuhaji, Tangerang Regency, Banten Province. During the searches, investigators seized a number of documents and electronic devices believed to be related to the company’s export...

GAPKI Urges Adaptive and Tech-Savvy Workforce to Strengthen Indonesia’s Palm Oil Industry

This message was highlighted by R Azis Hidayat, Head of Plantation Affairs at the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), during a press conference for the 4th Technology and Talent Palm Oil Mill Indonesia (TPOMI) 2026 attended by . Azis stressed that both companies and workers who fail to adapt to technological changes risk being left behind in an increasingly competitive industry landscape. “The palm oil industry competes in the global market. Therefore, human resources must possess strong competencies to compete with workers from other countries,” Azis said. According to him, the industry today places greater value on practical competence than...

Muba Plantation Agency Urges Palm Oil Mills to Continue Buying Smallholders’ FFB Amid Market Uncertainty

The appeal was outlined in a circular issued by the Head of the Musi Banyuasin Plantation Agency through Letter No. B-500.8/432/DISBUN/2026 dated May 26, 2026. The directive follows communication from the South Sumatra Provincial Plantation Agency urging precautionary measures to maintain conducive conditions amid ongoing developments in the palm oil market. Local authorities observed market reactions reflected in declining FFB purchasing prices at the Smallholders level, a situation viewed as potentially disruptive to plantation business stability and the distribution of harvested crops. In the letter, the Muba Plantation Agency firmly instructed companies to continue purchasing FFB in accordance with prevailing...

North Sumatra Agrarian Group Urges DPR Oversight on Supreme Court Ruling Over Oil Palm Land in Asahan

The letter, numbered 906/Maspera-Sumbagut/V/2026 and signed by DPW Maspera Sumbagut Chairman Darwin Marpaung, serves as a public complaint and a request for parliamentary oversight regarding the implementation of a court order mandating the revocation of Forestry Minister Decree No. SK.573/MENHUT-II/2009. According to DPW Maspera Sumbagut, the ministerial decree issued on September 28, 2009 granted the release of 4,773.90 hectares of convertible production forest (HPK) in the Nantalu forest group, Sei Kepayang District, Asahan Regency, North Sumatra, for oil palm plantation development under PT Citra Sawit Indah Lestari. However, local communities are said to have occupied and cultivated the land since...

Wilmar Clarifies Reports on Alleged Palm Oil Export Manipulation Investigation

The company responded after several national media outlets named Wilmar among major palm oil firms reportedly associated with alleged export value manipulation. In its official statement received by on Saturday (30/5/2026), Wilmar emphasized that it has not received any formal notification regarding an investigation as reported by sections of the media. “Wilmar wishes to clarify that we have not received any formal notification regarding the investigation referred to in media reports. Nevertheless, we are cooperating with relevant authorities to understand the issues that concern them,” the company said. Wilmar added that while no official notice has been delivered, it remains...