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PT SAP Supports Nutrition Fulfillment for Children and Pregnant Women To Combat Stunting

admin — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 03:58:00 +0000

Stunting is a condition where a child’s growth is hindered, resulting in a shorter stature compared to their peers due to prolonged inadequate nutrition, particularly during the crucial first 1,000 days of life. This issue transcends physical challenges, impacting brain development and diminishing cognitive abilities, future academic potential, and productivity.

Recent data from the Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI) shows that the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia has significantly decreased to 21.6% in 2023 from 24.4% in 2021. The government aims for this figure to further decline to 14% by the end of 2024, in alignment with WHO standards that recommend a prevalence below 20%.

This impressive reduction is a testament to numerous interventions, including enhanced nutrition for pregnant women and children under five, alongside support from corporate CSR programs like supplementary feeding assistance (PMT) for children in priority areas.

Tackling stunting is a vital focus within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of PT Subur Abadi Plantations (SAP), a palm oil subsidiary of Astra Agro Lestari (AALI) operating in East Kalimantan.

“Public health is a cornerstone of our mission. This activity exemplifies our commitment to supporting the government’s efforts in accelerating the reduction of stunting in Indonesia through Supplementary Food Provision (PMT) at Posyandu,” articulated Fadil, the CSR representative of PT SAP, during an event at the Posyandu in Marah Haloq Village and Lung Melah Village on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.

Fadil emphasized that nutritional issues in children and malnutrition among pregnant women often go unnoticed, underlining the critical role of healthcare workers and the community in educating people about proper nutrition, primarily through initiatives at Posyandu or Puskesmas.

The PMT initiative provides toddlers with nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, and adequate protein, essential for their growth and development.

The community has warmly embraced the PMT activities routinely organized by PT SAP. Rahmawati, Chairperson of the Marah Haloq Village Posyandu Cadre, expressed gratitude for the assistance from PT SAP, which plays a vital role in enhancing health services at Posyandu and fulfilling children’s nutritional needs.

“I represent the Posyandu from Marah Haloq Village. Thank you for the PMT assistance provided by PT SAP. Their regular involvement in monitoring stunting through this program is invaluable. We hope this initiative continues in the future,” stated Rahmawati.

Fadil additionally shared that providing extra food is a way the company supports Posyandu cadres for their remarkable efforts so far. The PMT for toddlers is typically prepared independently by Posyandu cadres, and the CSR initiative is designed to boost motivation and lay the groundwork for stunting prevention in the next generation.

“Through the synergy between the company, Posyandu cadres, and the community, PT SAP is dedicated to backing government health programs and fostering a stunting-free future for generations to come,” Fadil concluded.

Disclaimer

This article may contain copyrighted material, which the copyright owner may not authorize. This material is intended to offer information and knowledge. The materials contained in the Astra Agro website are distributed without profit. If you are interested in using copyrighted material from these materials for any reason beyond ‘fair use’, you must first obtain permission from the source.

Astra Agro Receives Award From Tempo and Transparency International Indonesia For Its Anti-Corruption Initiatives

admin — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 10:12:00 +0000

Transparency International Indonesia (TII), in collaboration with TEMPO Data Science, awarded PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk (AALI) the title of a high-integrity palm oil issuer.

Astra Agro Lestari received the Sustainable Business Integrity Index award in the Sapphire category on Tuesday, October 12, at the Salihara Art Centre. This recognition from both organizations highlights the company’s genuine efforts to implement business practices characterized by integrity and sustainability.

The award underscores the company’s achievement in integrating anti-corruption principles, respect for human rights, and environmental sustainability into its corporate governance. The assessment by TII and TEMPO Data Science serves as evidence that the company has taken strategic steps to support these principles.

Astra Agro Lestari’s President Director, Santosa, emphasized that the sustainability program is central to the company’s vision of “Prospering Together with the Nation,” while also addressing global responsibilities related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

‘We are committed to implementing a sustainability action plan that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our sustainability policy emphasizes principles such as no deforestation, conservation of peatlands, and respect for human rights, as explained by Santosa.

Astra Agro Lestari Director, Widayanto, added that this award serves as tangible evidence of the company’s commitment to positively impacting all levels of society and the environment.

“We believe that sustainability is the foundation for long-term growth. This recognition motivates us to continually enhance the quality of our governance and create a greater impact for all stakeholders,” stated Widayanto.

Arif Zulkifli, CEO of Tempo Media Group, stated that companies that prioritize integrity can greatly promote environmental sustainability and create positive societal change.

Integrity is a crucial value that should not be underestimated. It represents honesty, authority, and a commitment to uphold principles and ethics in business. In today’s world, business practices that are founded on integrity and sustainability are essential.

Astra Agro’s success can be attributed to its excellence in three key areas. Firstly, in the realm of anti-corruption, the company enforces a strict code of ethics, provides integrity training for employees, and ensures transparency by disclosing information to both stakeholders and the public.

Secondly, regarding human rights, Astra Agro implements community empowerment programs, safeguards workers’ rights, and fosters a safe and comfortable work environment for all employees. Lastly, in relation to the environment, the company consistently adopts eco-friendly agribusiness practices, maintains effective waste management, and actively works to preserve biodiversity in all its operational areas.

Danang Widoyoko, the Secretary General of Transparency International Indonesia, stated that the purpose of this award is to promote integrity within both the public and private sectors. He noted that sustainability issues have become a priority across all levels of society, including government, business leaders, and the community.

In response to this need, Transparency International Indonesia, an anti-corruption NGO, collaborated with Tempo to conduct ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) measurement.Astra Agro’s success can be attributed to its excellence in three key areas. Firstly, in the realm of anti-corruption, the company enforces a strict code of ethics, provides integrity training for employees, and ensures transparency by disclosing information to both stakeholders and the public.

In response to this need, Transparency International Indonesia, an anti-corruption NGO, collaborated with Tempo to conduct ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) measurement.

“We assess each company independently and objectively. Please understand that we visit all their websites and review the company documents one by one. This process begins with the annual report, the Sustainability Report, the Code of Conduct, and all relevant materials available on the site,” he explained.

With this award, PT Astra Agro Lestari further solidifies its position as a company that focuses not only on profits but also prioritizes its responsibility to society and environmental sustainability.

Prabowo showcases Indonesia’s green energy progress at G20 Summit

admin — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 01:42:00 +0000

President Prabowo Subianto, at his meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday, outlined Indonesia’s initiatives toward environment-friendly renewable energy development. Prabowo delivered this statement in response to climate change as one of the important topics discussed at the G20 Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“Indonesia has developed technology for making solar from palm oil. We are also developing technology to produce gasoline from palm oil,” he remarked as monitored from his YouTube channel on Monday.

During the meeting, Guterres considered Indonesia as a successful country that played a key role in the summit to prepare for future reforms.

“Indonesia’s role, as an international partner, is very important for us to realize more justice, equality, and capacity in supporting developing countries experiencing crises,” he affirmed.

G20 nations hold tremendous influence over global climate action, as they account for over 77 percent of worldwide emissions and represent 85 percent of the global economy.

This dominant position makes these countries crucial in determining whether the world can achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The G20 Brazil also discussed important sub-topics such as sustainable climate action and a just and inclusive energy transition.

Earlier, discussions related to climate change were also held by involving experts in providing independent assessments and insights on topics selected for discussion in the G20 TF-CLIMA.

The last session of the G20 Summit in Brazil also discussed topics related to mobilization against climate change, sustainable finance, and energy efficiency.

At the meeting, Prabowo was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono, Deputy Minister of Finance Thomas Djiwandono, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, and Indonesian Ambassador to Brazil Edy Yusop.

Meanwhile, those accompanying the UN Secretary-General included Principal Political Affairs Officer Aguinaldo Baptista, Under Secretary General Li Junhua, UN Resident Coordinator Silvia Rucks, and Director of Sustainable Development Unit Michelle Gyles McDonnough.

Source: Antara News

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_{This article may contain copyrighted material, the use of which may not have been pre-authorized by the copyright owner. This material is made available for the purpose of giving information and knowledge. The material contained on the Astra Agro website distributed without profit. If you are interested in using copyrighted material from this material for any reason that goes beyond ‘fair use’, you must first obtain permission from the original source}

Indonesia Has A Strategic Role In Supporting Global Food And Energy Availability Through Palm Oil

admin — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 09:28:41 +0000

Indonesia as the largest palm oil producer in the world is considered to have a strategic role in supporting food and energy availability at the global level as the human population increases.

“In the context of Indonesia, palm oil is a strategic commodity that will support our nation to achieve food and energy independence,” said Chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil House (RSI), Kacuk Sumarto in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Monday, November 18.

According to him, the world’s human population is expected to increase to around 8.5 billion people (in 2030) from about 8.2 billion people (in 2024), while the United Nations (UN) predicts it will reach 10 billion in 2080.

Of course, he continued, this will also increase the number of food and energy needs. Meanwhile, the earth’s carrying capacity has decreased as a result of; exploitation of excessive natural resources, use of unwise kima fertilizers and climate change. This has an impact on the ratio of food availability to decrease and food prices are increasing.

The increase in population will also have an impact on increasing human activity and in turn the need for energy will also increase, while the availability of energy originating from the stomach will decrease and be limited.

“Therefore, the development of new and renewable energy is a necessity. Moreover, the use of fossil fuels contributes to a very high impact on carbon emissions, so it must be limited in use,” said Kacuk in his statement.

He emphasized that it is absolute for the state to establish a policy of food and energy independence that is not disturbed by any situation in the international world.

Seeing the condition of the existing land, he added, oil palm plantations have the most potential to support food sovereignty or independence and energy.

This considers two main things, first; palm oil can produce food and energy. Second; oil palm plantation land, covering an area of 16.8 million hectares and spread across the country, has the potential to be planted with food and energy.

In the RSI study, he added, if oil palm rejuvenation is carried out consistently, there is at least one million hectares that allow the inter-cropping of food and energy commodities. Especially if it can be consumed locally, it will save a lot of logistics costs.

On this occasion, Kacuk explained that Indonesia’s role in achieving food and energy independence will be discussed as a discussion topic in a seminar held by RSI in Jakarta, Monday, November 18.

The Seminar with the theme Reaching Food Sovereignty, Energy and Economy Through Oil Palm Plantations Towards Golden Indonesia 2045 presents a number of speakers from representatives of the government and business actors. In addition, there will also be a RSI Congress I on Tuesday 19 November.

Source: VOI News

Palm oil prices to improve on the back of strong export performance

admin — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 03:21:00 +0000

The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives is expected to trade with a positive bias next week on the back of strong export performance, a trader said.

Palm oil trader David Ng said the expectation of stronger exports in the coming weeks is likely to result in lower overall stocks in the country, which would be beneficial for prices.

“We expect prices to be in the RM4,230-RM4,450 range next week,” he told Bernama.

He said Malaysian palm oil export estimates for October, expected to be released by cargo surveyors Intertek Testing Services and Amspec, would be among the focuses next week.

Meanwhile, Interband Group of Companies senior palm oil trader Jim Teh said the CPO market would see profit-taking next week with prices ranging from RM3,800-RM3,900 a tonne after the Malaysian Palm Oil Board’s (MPOB) latest data release, which reported a higher stock level in the country in September.

“The CPO price is too high, which may cause the prices of food to increase.

“Physical demand for CPO, as usual, will come from India, China, Pakistan, the Middle Eastern countries, the United States and Europe,” he said.

For the trading week just ended, CPO futures were mostly lower due to MPOB’s data as well as the influence of declining crude oil and soybean oil prices.

On Thursday, MPOB said palm oil exports in September 2024 edged up 0.93 per cent to 1.54 million tonnes from 1.53 million tonnes in August 2024, while total palm oil stocks climbed 6.93 per cent to 2.01 million tonnes from 1.88 million tonnes in the preceding month.

In contrast, CPO production dropped 3.8 per cent, or 71,926 tonnes, to 1.82 million tonnes in the month under review from 1.89 million tonnes in August.

On a Friday-to-Friday basis, the spot month October 2024 futures surged by RM124 to RM4,283 a tonne, November 2024 rose RM289 to RM4,385, December 2024 gained RM299 to RM4,350, January 2025 increased by RM301 to RM4,315, February 2025 advanced RM299 to RM4,278, and March 2025 climbed RM295 to RM4,240.

Total weekly volume improved to 470,718 lots from 437,710 in the preceding week, while open interest edged up to 252,079 contracts from 251,725 previously.

The physical CPO price for October South increased RM60 to RM4,480 on Friday from RM4,420 a week earlier.

Source: New Straits Times

Palm rises more than 4% in biggest jump in over a year on stronger oil, soyoil

admin — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 09:13:15 +0000

Malaysian palm oil futures jumped more than 4% on Wednesday, driven by gains in crude oil prices and Chicago soyoil.

The benchmark palm oil contract for December delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange rose 190 ringgit, or 4.74%, at 4,196 ringgit ($1,006.72) a metric ton at the close, its highest daily gain since July 3, 2023.

The contract rose 4.79% to an intra-day high of 4,198 ringgit a metric ton earlier in the session. It also gained 5.03% for two straight sessions.

Crude palm oil futures rose in the second session as they followed the continued uptrend in Chicago soyoil and crude oil, coupled with traders rushing to cover shorts, a Kuala Lumpur based trader said.

Anilkumar Bagani, research head of Mumbai-based vegetable oils broker Sunvin Group, added the CPO rose following a strong undercurrent in energy prices after Iran fired ballistic missiles towards Israel.

Palm bounces back on Indonesia’s October reference price hike

“The added support also came from a weaker ringgit and the bullish momentum in Chicago soyoil. India’s sharply lower vegetable oil imports in September of around just 1.06 million tons will also require more buying to replenish the upcoming festival demand,” he said.

Oil prices climbed more than 2% on rising concerns that Middle East tensions could escalate, potentially disrupting crude output from the region, following Iran’s biggest ever military blow against Israel.

Brent crude futures for December were up 2.91% at $75.70 a barrel, as of 1026 GMT. Stronger crude oil futures make palm a more attractive option for biodiesel feedstock.

Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade rose 2.91%. Dalian’s vegetable oil markets were closed for the Golden Week holiday in China.

Palm oil tracks price movements of rival edible oils, as they compete for a share of the global vegetable oils market.

The ringgit, palm’s currency of trade, weakened 0.17% against the dollar, making the commodity cheaper for buyers holding foreign currencies.

Source: Business Recorder

Rising CPO Prices Affected By Increased Demand From India

admin — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 09:04:18 +0000

The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) noted an increase in the reference price (HR) of palm oil (CPO) commodities which was influenced by the large demand from India and China which was not matched by the amount of production.

The Director General of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Trade, Isy Karim, said that HR CPO for the determination of Customs and Exit (BK) and Export Levy (PE) for the period 1-31 October 2024 was 893.64 US dollars per MT.

This value increased by 54.11 US dollars or 6.45 percent from the September 2024 period which was recorded at 839.53 US dollars per MT.

“This increase in HR CPO is influenced by increased demand, especially from India and China, which are not balanced with increased production. On the other hand, production decline is due to a long dry season,” said Isy as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, October 2.

Currently, HR CPO has increased away from a threshold of US$680 per MT. For this reason, referring to the current Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK), the government imposed a BK CPO of US$74 per MT and a CPO PE of 7.5 percent of HR CPO October of US$67.02 per MT for the period 1-31 October 2024.

The source for the determination of HR CPO comes from the average price during the period August 25-24 September 2024 on a number of referrals, namely the CPO exchange in Indonesia amounting to 857.25 US dollars per MT, the CPO exchange in Malaysia amounting to 930.03 US dollars per MT, and the CPO Rotterdam auction market amounting to 1,040.70 US dollars per MT.

Cooking oil (refined, bleached, and deodorized/RBD palm olein) in branded packages and packaged with a net weight of 25 kg is subject to 0 US dollars BK per MT.

The determination of the brand for the product is listed in the Decree of the Minister of Trade Number 1331 of 2024 concerning the List of RBD Palm Olein Brands in Branded Packaging and Packed with a Netto Weight of 25 Kg.

Meanwhile, the HR cocoa beans for the October 2024 period was set at 7,581.49 US dollars per MT, down by 335.42 US dollars or 4.24 percent from the previous month.

This has an impact on decreasing the Export Patokan Price (HPE) of cocoa beans in October 2024 to 7,167 US dollars per MT, down 311 US dollars or 4.16 percent from the previous period.

“The decline in HR and HPE cocoa beans was due to increased production, especially in West African countries and strengthening the US dollar,” said Isy.

Furthermore, HPE skin products for the period October 2024 did not change from the previous month.

Meanwhile, HPE wood products increased in several types of wood, namely sawwood with a cross section area of 1,000-4,000 mm2 of the meranti type, Merbau, other sort of styling forest, gemelina, acacia, and sengon.

HPE that comes down are veneer wood from natural forests, forest plants, wooden sheet for packing box, and sawwood with a cross section area of 1,000-4,000 mm2 of mixed forest species, other sort of sortiments such as ebony, teak, and from forest plants which include rubber, balsa, and eucalyptus.

Source: VOI News

Palm oil rises for 6th session, closes at highest level in nearly 3 months

admin — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 08:58:00 +0000

Malaysian palm oil futures extended gains to a sixth straight session on Wednesday, closing at their highest level in over two-and-a-half months, as strength in Dalian contracts outweighed profit-taking in other rival oils.

The benchmark palm oil contract for December delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange climbed 56 ringgit, or 1.4%, to 4,044 ringgit ($979.89) a metric ton to close at its highest since July 5.

The contract has risen 8.24% over the last six sessions.

Malaysian palm oil futures are still on the uptrend as the Chinese government’s stimulus announcement has resulted in continuous strength in Dalian oils, a Kuala Lumpur-based trader said.

“We are also seeing some profit-taking on rival oils’ long contracts,” the trader said.

Dalian’s most-active soyoil contract rose 0.58%, while its palm oil contract added 1.38%. Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade fell 0.23%.

Palm oil tracks price movements in rival edible oils as they compete for a share of the global vegetable oils market.

Palm oil extends winning run on output concerns

The ringgit, palm’s currency of trade, strengthened 0.55% against the U.S. dollar, making the commodity more expensive for buyers holding foreign currencies.

Cargo surveyors estimate exports of Malaysian palm oil products rose between 13% and 13.9% during Sept. 1-25, compared with the same period a month ago.

Indonesia’s palm oil exports fell 36% to 2.241 million metric tons in July from a year earlier, data from the Indonesian palm oil association GAPKI showed.

Oil prices slipped on Wednesday as investors reassessed whether China’s latest stimulus plans will be able to boost its economy and spur fuel demand in the world’s largest crude importer.

Weaker crude oil futures make palm a less attractive option for biodiesel feedstock.

Source: Business Recorder

Indonesia issues new palm oil levies rule to boost competitiveness

admin — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 09:35:00 +0000

The world’s biggest palm oil exporter Indonesia will introduce a new set of monthly levies in a bid to improve competitiveness against rival edible oils, a regulation published on Thursday by its finance ministry showed.

Under the new rules, which take effect on Saturday, levies for crude palm oil exports will be set at a 7.5% rate of the reference price set periodically by the government.

The more refined palm oil products will be charged lower levy rates, at between 3% and 6% of the reference rates, the document showed.

Indonesia currently imposes a levy of between $55 and $240 per metric ton for crude palm oil exports, depending on a set of price brackets for the monthly reference price.

“Certainly this will make Indonesian origin more competitive especially in October.

Malaysian origin need to get lower in order to compete,” said Paramalingam Supramaniam, director at Selangor-based brokerage Pelindung Bestari.

Malaysia is the world’s second largest palm oil exporter.

Indonesia made changes to “improve palm oil competitiveness and provide added value to farmers’ fresh fruit bunches”, the finance ministry decree said.

A government official has previously said that the changes were necessary to compete with rivals such as soyoil and sunflower oils, against which palm is losing its competitive edge.

The levies are collected to help finance palm oil programmes such as a replanting subsidy for smallholders and for the country’s biodiesel programme.

Source: Reuters

India’s edible oil demand to increase despite hefty import duty hike

admin — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 03:01:55 +0000

India’s edible oil consumption is set to grow at a pace of 2%-3% as cooking oils remain affordable despite an import duty hike, a leading importer told Reuters on Wednesday.

New Delhi on Friday raised the basic import tax on crude and refined edible oils by 20 percentage points to help protect farmers reeling from lower oilseed prices.

“As we enter the peak festival season, demand will remain strong. Despite the duty hike, edible oil prices are affordable,” said Sanjeev Asthana, chief executive officer at Patanjali Foods Ltd.

“Edible oils’ demand could grow by 2%-3% in the 2024-2025 marketing year starting from Nov. 1 because of rising population and prosperity,” he said.

India is the world’s largest importer and meets 70% of its vegetable oil demand through foreign sourcing. It buys palm oil from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, while soyoil and sunoil come from Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Ukraine.

The country’s palm oil imports in 2024-25 could be between 9-10 million metric tons compared to around 9 million tons this year as tropical oil is likely to regain the market share it lost to rival sunflower oil due to a higher premium, he said.

“We witnessed an unusual surge in sunflower oil imports this year due to attractive prices. Next year, sunflower oil imports may return to the normal range of 3 million tons,” he said.

India’s sunoil imports in the current year are expected to surge to record 3.6 million tons from year-ago 3 million tons.

Russia and Ukraine’s abundant sunoil supplies brought prices down and made it competitive against rival oils.

Soyoil imports would remain largely steady next year, around this year’s level of 3 million tons, Asthana said.

India’s soybean crop in 2024 could rise to 11 million tons from approximately 10 million tons last year, if the weather remains favourable over the next few weeks, he said.

Source: Business Standard

Indonesia Plantation Expo records 11 MoUs worth Rp3.1 trillion

admin — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 02:52:00 +0000

The Indonesia Plantation Expo (Bunex) 2024 held by the Ministry of Agriculture resulted in the inking of 11 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) valued at up to Rp3.1 trillion (around US$201.6 million).

“The Bunex 2024 recorded total direct transactions of Rp2.32 billion, with Rp367 billion potential transactions from buyers,” Chairman of the Executive Committee of Bunex 2024 Prayudi Syamsuri noted in a statement received here on Monday.

The Bunex 2024, themed “Sustainable Plantations for Food and Energy Security Towards Golden Indonesia 2045,” was held on September 12-14 at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE), Tangerang, Banten.

According to Syamsuri, the exhibition featured 133 booths comprising 60 booths of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and 73 booths of plantation companies and other supporting institutions, attracting more than 15,268 visitors.

Syamsuri also encouraged all parties to improve the quality, added value, and competitiveness of Indonesia’s plantation products.

One of the highlights of the expo was the introduction of the B50 biodiesel technology, which is expected to support energy security programs.

“Hopefully, all the efforts that we have made in Bunex can continue to contribute, both now and in the future, to improve Indonesia’s welfare,” he remarked.

In addition, various awards were bestowed to show appreciation and recognition for the contributions of stakeholders, MSMEs, and business players in the plantation industry.

The expo also featured several palm oil-based processing innovations, talk shows and focus group discussions (FGDs) on palm oil and other plantations, an investment forum, demonstrations of plantation tools and machines, plantation coaching, and other activities.

The Bunex 2024, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture along with the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS), is an important event that will expand market access for MSME and millennial business players in the plantation sector.

Acting Director General of Plantation at the Ministry of Agriculture Heru Tri Widarto emphasized the importance of the plantation sector as the most significant contributor of foreign exchange in the non-oil and gas sector.

“The Indonesia Plantation Expo is the right opportunity to promote plantation products in a more modern way,” Widarto remarked.

Source: Antara News

Indonesia Booked Bigger Than Expected Trade Surplus In August

admin — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 02:47:00 +0000

Indonesia booked a bigger-than-expected trade surplus in August as exports and imports beat forecasts, official data showed on Tuesday.

The country reported a surplus of $2.89 billion last month, compared with $1.96 billion expected in a Reuters poll.Exports in August grew 7.13 per cent on a yearly basis to $23.56 billion, Statistics Indonesia said. The median forecast was for a 3.83 per cent annual rise last month.

Imports were worth $20.67 billion, up 9.46 per cent from a year earlier, compared with the poll’s expectation of an 8.15 per cent rise.

Indonesia is the world’s biggest exporter of thermal coal, palm oil and nickel metals, and a major exporter of several other commodities.

Shipments from the country have risen in annual terms each month since April, recovering after a year where exports values had posted some sharp falls following the peak of a post-pandemic commodity price boom.

Oil and gas shipments fell, but this was offset by an 8.7 per cent increase in exports of manufactured goods. Also boosting the August figures was a 9.7 per cent annual increase in coal shipments to $2.47 billion.

The August trade data is among economic indicators the central bank will analyse during its two-day policy meeting starting Tuesday. Economists polled by Reuters ahead of the trade data expected Bank Indonesia to leave rates unchanged.

Source: Business Today

Palm oil ends higher on rising inventories

admin — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 00:59:00 +0000

Malaysian palm oil futures ended marginally higher on Wednesday after industry data showed inventories in the world’s second-largest producer rose more than expected last month.

The benchmark palm oil contract for November delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange closed up 16 ringgit, or 0.41%, at 3,901 ringgit a metric ton.

On Tuesday, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) said the country’s palm oil stocks at the end of August rose 7.34% from the previous month to 1.88 million metric tons, the highest level in six months.

Crude palm oil production gained 2.87% to 1.89 million metric tons, while palm oil exports fell 9.74% to 1.53 million metric tons, the board said.

A Reuters survey had forecast inventories at 1.86 million metric tons, with output seen at 1.89 million metric tons and exports at 1.5 million metric tons.

The market is trading sideways due to a lack of clarity “over the future course of price action and also (the) market is waiting for Indonesian palm oil export levies and duty policy revision,” said Anilkumar Bagani, head of research at Mumbai-based vegetable oil broker Sunvin group.

Palm oil falls as August inventories rise more than expected

Indonesia, the biggest palm oil exporter, plans to lower export duties to improve competitiveness and raise farmers’ income.

Palm oil may break support at 3,856 ringgit per metric ton and fall towards the 3,782 ringgit to 3,796 ringgit range.

Oil climbed more than 2% on Wednesday, paring some of the previous day’s losses, as a drop in U.S. crude inventories and concern about Hurricane Francine disrupting U.S. output countered concerns about weak global demand.

Higher crude oil futures make palm an attractive option for biodiesel feedstock.

U.S. stock futures faltered, the dollar was on the defensive and bond prices rallied, as markets reacted to a U.S. presidential debate in which Vice President Kamala Harris put Republican Donald Trump on the defensive.

Source: Business Recorder

Global vegetable oil production continues to grow

admin — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 00:54:00 +0000

Worldwide vegetable production continues to increase alongside rising demand, according to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data reported by Germany’s Union for the Promotion of Plants and Protein (UFOP).

Palm and soyabean oils were likely to be significantly more abundant in 2024/25, more than offsetting the decline in sunflower oil, the 22 August report said.

The USDA forecast a 2.7M tonne year-on-year rise in global vegetable oil production in the current crop year to reach a record level of 224.2M tonnes.

With demand also increasing, consumption was estimated at 221.7M tonnes, up 5.3M tonnes on the previous year.

Against this background, ending stocks were expected to be lower than the previous year at 29.6M tonnes and below the long-standing average.

According to research by Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft, palm oil production is set to reach another record volume in 2024/25. Although the USDA had lowered its earlier forecast of 80M tonnes, the current estimate of 79.8M tonnes was still up 0.8M tonnes on 2023/24 output.

Due to good feedstock supply, soyabean oil availability was likely to increase by just under 3.2M tonnes, reaching a record 65.5M tonnes.

At 34.2M tonnes, rapeseed oil production was also expected to reach a record.

However, the USDA expected sunflower oil production to drop in 2024/25, particularly due to a more than 1M tonne decline in Ukrainian production.

The global sunflower oil forecast was lowered almost 1M tonnes month-on-month to 20.6M tonnes, dropping just under 2M tonnes below the previous year’s volume. This would be the lowest output since 2021/22, the report said.

Although the global supply of vegetable oils for human consumption was secure, the UFOP raised concerns about the large number of ongoing military conflicts in many regions, saying that the resulting supply bottlenecks and famines were exclusively due to political factors.

Source: Oils & Fats International

Indonesia plans to cut palm oil export levy to improve competitiveness, government official says

admin — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 03:04:00 +0000

Indonesia, the world’s biggest palm oil exporter, plans to lower export levy rates of the tropical oil to improve competitiveness against rival vegetable oils and raise farmers’ income, a government official said on Wednesday.

Palm oil typically trades at a discount to soft oils. However, it has lost the edge over soyoil and sunflower oil in recent months amid ample supply, driving away major buyers India and China.

“Traditionally (palm oil was) always the cheapest, but now it is very competitive with soybean oil and sunflower oil. By lowering (export levy), we hope to improve smallholders’ welfare and price competitiveness,” Dida Gardera, a senior official at Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs told Reuters.

Small farmers often complain that exporters offer them cheaper prices for their palm fruits to compensate for higher export taxes.

Under current rules, Indonesia imposes a levy between US$55 to US$240 per metric ton for crude palm oil exports, depending on global palm oil prices, which is charged on top of a separate export tax.

There are 17 brackets for the levy, with the lowest tax rate kicking in when palm oil price is below US$680 per ton, and the highest rate when the price is above US$1,430 per ton.

The new levy rates will also have “simpler” price brackets, Dida said, without disclosing further details.

Indonesia collects levies on shipments of palm oil products to fund programmes such as smallholders replanting scheme and biodiesel blending mandate.

Exports of Indonesia’s palm oil export in the first half of this year stood at 15.07 million metric tons, a 7.65% drop year-on-year, data from the country’s biggest palm oil producers group GAPKI showed.

Source: The Edge Malaysia

African nations keen to boost palm oil capacity: FM Marsudi

admin — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 08:30:00 +0000

Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi on Monday revealed that African countries expressed their interest in increasing the capacity of their palm oil industry during their meeting with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

“During the meetings with the President, what was requested a lot was capacity improvement in, for example, palm oil,” she said at a press conference on the sidelines of the High-Level Forum on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (HLF MSP) and the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) here.

Marsudi disclosed that several African nations also expressed a desire to join the Committee of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC).

There were also requests for cooperation to increase health capacity, she said.

Regarding health cooperation, she highlighted that President Widodo and Vice President of Zimbabwe Kembo Dugish Campbell Muleya Mohadi discussed economic cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector during their bilateral meeting.

Indonesia also discussed a master agreement on health technology transfer cooperation with Ghana and a master agreement on vaccine technology transfer cooperation with Kenya.

“Indonesia is ready to partner with African countries, especially in the food, energy, health, and mineral sectors,” the minister said.

The 2nd IAF, themed “Bandung Spirit for Africa’s Agenda 2063,” is being held in Bali from September 1–3, 2024, in conjunction with the HLF MSP 2024, which has adopted the theme of “Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: Towards a Transformative Change.”

With several global stakeholders joining the forum, Indonesia is hoping to play an important role in pushing transformational change that is more inclusive and sustainable at the global level.

Source: Antara

Nigeria and Indonesia Sign Agreement to Cooperate on Palm Oil

admin — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 08:24:00 +0000

Nigeria and Indonesia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing palm oil production and expanding market opportunities, with a focus on modernizing practices and improving income for smallholder farmers. The agreement, signed in Abuja by the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) and the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), marks a significant step toward strengthening the palm oil industry in both countries.

Ambassador Alphonsus Inyang, President of NPPAN, emphasized that the MoU would offer smallholder farmers in Nigeria access to vital knowledge, technology, and economic opportunities within the palm oil sector. He highlighted that the agreement is designed to promote growth in Nigeria’s palm oil industry, fostering cooperation that benefits both nations. The initiative is expected to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on traditional farming methods, enhancing productivity and profitability for local farmers.

Mr. Eddy Martono, Chairman of GAPKI, reiterated Indonesia’s commitment to supporting the development of Nigeria’s palm oil industry. He noted that the agreement aligns with Indonesia’s broader strategy of expanding its palm oil market into non-traditional regions, with Nigeria serving as a key strategic partner in this endeavor. Martono underscored the importance of this partnership in strengthening bilateral ties and contributing to the global palm oil market.

Sahabi Muazu, Director of the Indonesian Embassy in Nigeria, expressed optimism that the MoU would catalyze growth in Nigeria’s palm oil sector. He echoed the sentiment that the collaboration would bring significant benefits to both countries, enhancing the industry’s overall performance.

Lolita Bangun, Deputy Secretary-General of GAPKI, pointed to Nigeria’s potential as a lucrative investment destination, drawing parallels with the success of IndoMie in the Nigerian market. She highlighted the growing demand for palm oil in Nigeria, stressing that the MoU is designed to increase palm oil exports to the country. With Indonesia’s expertise and Nigeria’s advantageous geographical position, the partnership is expected to drive substantial growth in the palm oil industries of both nations.

In summary, the MoU between Nigeria and Indonesia represents a strategic effort to modernize palm oil production, expand market reach, and enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. The collaboration is poised to strengthen the palm oil industry in both countries, creating a mutually beneficial relationship that supports economic growth and sustainability.

The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) was founded on February 27, 1981. Its creation was motivated by the desire of Indonesia’s palm oil industry stakeholders to consolidate their efforts under a single organization as the number of industry players grew. Initially, GAPKI brought together 23 palm oil companies, including state-owned plantation enterprises (BUMN), private national and foreign companies, and oil palm farmers organized in cooperatives.

Source: Chem Analyst

Palm oil extends gains on Indonesia supply outlook, biodiesel plan

admin — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 02:07:00 +0000

Malaysian palm oil futures rose for a fifth consecutive day on Tuesday, sustaining its longest rally in six weeks, amid prospects of tightening supply and Indonesia’s plans to raise biodiesel blending rates.

The benchmark palm oil contract for November delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange was up 0.71% to 3,952 ringgit ($908.92) a metric ton by the midday break.

Prices were supported by the Indonesian Palm Oil Association’s estimates that Indonesia’s 2024 palm oil output would fall to 52-53 million tons from 54.84 million tons a year ago, said Anilkumar Bagani, research head of Mumbai-based vegetable oils broker Sunvin Group, citing a Bloomberg report.

Indonesia’s president-elect Prabowo Subianto hopes to implement mandatory 50% palm oil-based biodiesel blending by early next year, which he said would cut fuel imports by $20 billion per year.

The country’s trade ministry is mulling a plan to adjust its palm oil export tax to make it more competitive amid weak global demand, Bisnis.com reported on Monday, citing Isy Karim, a senior official at the ministry.

Palm oil climbs to one-month high on Indonesia’s tax, biodiesel plans

Dalian’s most-active soyoil contract added 1.87%, while its palm oil contract climbed 1.56%.

Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade edged 0.42% lower.

Palm oil tracks price movements in related oils as they compete for a share in the global vegetable oils market.

The Malaysian ringgit, palm’s currency of trade, depreciated 0.14% against the dollar. A weaker ringgit makes palm oil more attractive for foreign currency holders.

Palm oil may retest resistance of 3,985 ringgit, a break above which could confirm a target range of 4,003 ringgit to 4,032 ringgit, said Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao.

Source: Business Recorder

Palm oil rises on supply concern

admin — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 07:20:36 +0000

Malaysian palm oil futures climbed for a third straight session on Friday to their highest in nearly three weeks as expectations of weak output in August and improving demand underpinned the contract.

The benchmark palm oil contract for November delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange gained 43 ringgit, or 1.12%, to 3,869 ringgit ($884.95) a metric ton at closing. The contract gained 5.1% for the week, its biggest weekly gain since mid-June 2023. “Preliminary Aug. 1-20 production figures by the Malaysian Palm Oil Association are not so encouraging; we are not seeing a double-digit growth in production,” said Paramalingam Supramaniam, a director at Selangor-based broker Pelindung Bestari.

Indonesia’s plan to raise the biodiesel blend to 40% in January from the current 35% and improving demand from major buyers China and India are also supporting the price, he added.

“We saw a lot of interest from China yesterday; they bought a lot of December cargo. A lot of activities in India yesterday, they also bought a lot of cargo. Overall, it looks like demand is coming back again to palm oil,” he said.

Dalian’s palm oil contract gained 0.96%, while the most-active soyoil contract was down 0.21%. Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade rose 1.09%.

Palm oil is affected by price movements in related oils as they compete for a share in the global vegetable oils market. Exports of Malaysian palm oil products for Aug. 1-20 fell between 16.7% and 18.4% from a month earlier, data from cargo surveyors Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS), Intertek Testing Services and AmSpec Agri Malaysia showed.

Source: Business Recorder

Prabowo Calls Food And Energy Safe, Key To Indonesia’s Prosperity

admin — Sun, 25 Aug 2024 13:23:00 +0000

President-elect of 2024-2029 Prabowo Subianto stated that the key to Indonesia’s prosperity lies in resources that can be managed and enjoyed by the nation itself.

Prabowo conveyed this on his occasion to be a speaker at the Closing of the 6th Congress of the 2024 National Mandate Party which was held at the Kempinski Hotel, Jakarta, Saturday night.

In the next five years, Prabowo believes that Indonesia will be able to self-sufficiency in food and then become an exporter to the world.

“I count that in five years we will not only self-sufficiency in food exports for the world. We will become a world food barn,” he said.

Regarding energy sources, Prabowo said that later Indonesia will be able to manage it from palm oil. Indonesia will accelerate B50 or biodiesel by 50% which is targeted at the end of 2024 or early 2025.

“Our energy will soon no longer need to be imported. It will come from oil palm called biodiesel, we will accelerate B50, at least 50% biodiesel from palm oil. Once we reach 50%, God willing, by the end of this year or early next year,” explained Prabowo.

Thus, Indonesia will be able to save USD 20 billion which does not need to leave the country.

“We will save 20 billion dollars of money, we don’t have to send it abroad anymore. More than IDR 300 trillion will be circulating in Indonesia,” Prabowo said.

Meanwhile, on the same occasion Prabowo shared the moments of his meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessmen of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently. On several occasions, Prabowo said that if the European country did not want to buy Indonesian palm oil, the resources would be managed by the Indonesian people themselves and would instead benefit Indonesia by self-sufficiency.

“So, we are now the largest palm oil producer in the world, that’s why when I was in France, there were four meetings with Macron, I said, Your Majesty, we feel that if Europe doesn’t want to buy palm oil, we are grateful, blessed in disguise,” said Prabowo:

For this reason, Prabowo is optimistic and confident that when food and energy are managed properly in the country, in the future there will be no need for any party to be afraid of by Indonesia in the world arena.

“We will use our palm oil for the benefit of the people, we will be self-sufficient in energy. Food, energy. The key is that. If it is safe, we don’t need to be afraid of anyone in this world,” said Prabowo.

Source: VOI News