InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Indonesia’s palm oil industry, long recognized as one of the country’s main economic pillars, continues to face serious challenges ranging from deforestation concerns, rising greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and land disputes, to broader social conflicts linked to plantation development.

These challenges, experts say, underscore the urgent need for government and industry stakeholders to accelerate governance reform through stronger sustainable palm oil policies.

Ermanto Fahamsyah, Professor of Economic Law at University of Jember, emphasized that Indonesia’s palm oil sector requires a more comprehensive development roadmap to address environmental and social concerns while maintaining its strategic contribution to the national economy.

Speaking at the Coordination Meeting on the Development of the National Sustainable Palm Oil Action Plan (RAN-KSB) policy in Jakarta on April 29, 2026, Prof. Ermanto stated that negative perceptions surrounding the palm oil industry show governance reform can no longer be delayed.

“Therefore, the National Sustainable Palm Oil Action Plan (RAN-KSB) has become an important instrument in strengthening the foundation for a more sustainable and globally competitive palm oil industry,” he said.

Eight Strategic Targets of RAN-KSB

Under its implementation framework, RAN-KSB is designed to achieve eight strategic objectives that will serve as key indicators of governance transformation in Indonesia’s palm oil sector.

The plan seeks to improve the availability of accurate and integrated national palm oil databases, strengthen thematic geospatial information on oil palm coverage, enhance the capacity of Smallholders to implement sustainable plantation practices, and reinforce biodiversity conservation while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the sector.

It also aims to accelerate land dispute resolution, clarify the legal status of plantations located within forest areas, increase certification uptake under the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) scheme, and strengthen ISPO’s acceptance in international markets to expand market access for Indonesian palm products.

From Presidential Instruction to Presidential Regulation

Prof. Ermanto explained that the policy foundation for RAN-KSB was initially established through Presidential Instruction No. 6 of 2019, which outlined the National Action Plan for Sustainable Palm Oil Plantations for the 2019–2024 period.

“The regulation was introduced to improve Smallholder capacity, accelerate land legalization, promote palm oil as a renewable energy source, and strengthen Indonesia’s palm oil diplomacy globally,” he noted.

As regulatory needs evolve, legalization of the next RAN-KSB phase is now being integrated into a draft Presidential Regulation on Indonesia’s Sustainable Palm Oil Certification System (ISPO Regulation). In the proposed framework, RAN-KSB will be placed in a dedicated chapter, complete with a national action matrix as an inseparable annex.

This move is seen as crucial in ensuring sustainable palm oil policy carries stronger legal force across ministries, government agencies, regional administrations, business actors, and Smallholders.

Sustainable Palm Oil as a Competitiveness Strategy

With stronger regulations and the implementation of RAN-KSB 2025–2029, Indonesia’s palm oil industry is expected to better address global criticism while improving governance across legality, productivity, environmental sustainability, and international market acceptance.

Looking ahead, sustainable palm oil transformation is viewed not only as a plantation sector necessity, but also as a strategic step in safeguarding Indonesia’s competitiveness amid growing global demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable products. (T2)

East Kalimantan FFB Prices for Second Period of April 2026 Rise by Rp107.91/kg

InfoSAWIT, SAMARINDA – Based on the latest decision by the Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) Pricing Team of East Kalimantan Province for the Second Period of April 2026 (April 16–30, 2026), the benchmark price for oil palm FFB aged above 10 years was set to increase by Rp107.91/kg, reaching Rp3,558.33/kg.

According to official data from the East Kalimantan Provincial Plantation Agency, FFB prices for various plantation age categories were set as follows: oil palm aged 3 years at Rp3,124.92/kg, 4 years at Rp3,224.36/kg, 5 years at Rp3,313.29/kg, 6 years at Rp3,386.06/kg, 7 years at Rp3,435.02/kg, and 8 years at Rp3,490.60/kg.

Meanwhile, oil palm aged 9 years was priced at Rp3,533.12/kg, while plantations aged above 10 years recorded the highest benchmark at Rp3,558.33/kg.

The provincial pricing authority also set the Crude Palm Oil (CPO) price at Rp15,125.10/kg, while Palm Kernel was valued at Rp14,432.67/kg, with a K Index of 88.36%. (T2)

Disclaimer: These prices are based on official provincial plantation office benchmarks. Actual prices received by Smallholders in the field may vary.