InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – The Indonesian government has introduced a new regulatory framework aimed at strengthening oversight of strategic natural resource exports, including palm oil, through the issuance of several implementing regulations derived from Government Regulation No. 24 of 2026.
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 supporting the government's downstream processing agenda.
According to Tommy Andana, Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Trade, the new framework seeks to balance export interests with domestic needs.
"Through this policy, the government aims to strengthen export governance, optimize economic benefits for the country, ensure domestic supply security, and support downstream development and national economic stability," Tommy said.
The implementation will occur in two phases. During the first phase, from June 1 to December 31, 2026, exporters may continue using their existing permits but must submit export reports and supporting documents to designated state-owned export entities.
The second phase, expected to take effect no later than January 1, 2027, will require all exports of strategic natural resource commodities to be conducted exclusively through appointed state-owned exporters.
For the palm oil sector, the new regulation maintains the scope of products previously covered under earlier export rules, while preserving obligations related to the Minyakita Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) scheme to safeguard domestic cooking oil supplies.
Industry observers believe the regulation marks a significant shift in Indonesia's palm oil export architecture ahead of the full rollout of the state-managed export mechanism in 2027. (T2)
