InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA — Sampoerna Strategic Group has officially divested its 65.721% stake in PT Sampoerna Agro Tbk (SGRO) to AGPA Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of POSCO International Corporation. The move marks a major strategic shift for both parties amid dynamic global and domestic palm oil markets.

Sampoerna Group President Director Bambang Sulistyo said the decision followed an extensive assessment process, emphasizing that SGRO is now “in the right hands.”

“We are grateful to have found a new home for SGRO. We believe the new owners will drive the company toward stronger growth prospects,” Bambang said, as quoted by Antara on Thursday (20/11/2025). He added that investor interest in Indonesia’s palm oil sector remains strong, but POSCO was deemed the most capable of sustaining SGRO’s momentum.

POSCO International, part of South Korea’s POSCO Group, has a significant presence in energy, steel, agribusiness, and global trade. In Indonesia, it is known for its partnership with PT Krakatau Steel through the Krakatau POSCO integrated steel plant, and for upstream energy activities via the Pertamina Hulu Energi North East Java consortium.

In palm oil, POSCO has operated since 2011 through PT Bio Inti Agrindo in South Papua, managing plantations and three processing mills with a total annual capacity of 210,000 tons. POSCO also runs a 500,000-ton-per-year refinery in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

The acquisition comes as SGRO records robust growth. In the first half of 2025, SGRO posted a 236.06% year-on-year increase in net profit, with sales rising 45.18%.

Indonesia remains the world’s largest palm oil producer, accounting for 60% of global output and nearly 50% of global CPO exports.

Sampoerna Group reaffirmed its commitment to Indonesia through other businesses, including Bank Sahabat Sampoerna, Sampoerna Kayoe, Sampoerna Land, and the Putera Sampoerna Foundation. (T2)