TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s crude palm oil (CPO) and derivative exports rose significantly from US$3.71 billion to US$4.69 billion in January–February 2026, reflecting a 26.4% increase compared to the same period last year, thanks to strengthened downstream processing, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Thursday.
“If we process our CPO into margarine, cosmetics, and other derivative products, the world will heavily rely on Indonesia,” the minister said in Jakarta.
Amran emphasized that the government is committed to enhancing the entire palm oil ecosystem, from production and processing to marketing, to increase added value and bolster the national economy through the agricultural sector.
“We control over 60% of the global market, which means Indonesia plays a decisive role. Strengthening downstream processing must continue,” he added.
According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the volume of CPO and its derivatives also grew, from 3.33 million tons in January–February 2025 to 4.54 million tons in the same period in 2026.
The rise in palm oil exports has contributed to a positive growth in Indonesia’s non-oil and gas exports, which increased 2.82% year-on-year to US$42.35 billion.
BPS Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics, Ateng Hartono, said the manufacturing sector remains the main driver of non-oil and gas export growth, including palm oil-based commodities.
“The manufacturing sector contributed 5.36% to the growth in non-oil and gas exports from January to February 2026,” he explained.
Besides palm oil and its derivatives, other commodities driving export growth include nickel, motor vehicles, semiconductors and electronic components, and organic chemicals derived from agriculture.
Sectorally, non-oil and gas exports in February 2026 were led by manufacturing at US$18.55 billion, followed by mining and other sectors at US$2.15 billion, and agriculture, fisheries, and forestry at US$0.39 billion, totaling US$21.09 billion for the month.
Hartono added that the strong performance of CPO and its derivatives reaffirms the commodity’s position as a key driver of Indonesia’s export growth in early 2026.
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