InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Indonesia’s palm oil exports came under pressure in July 2026, with total shipments declining from the previous month as exports to several key destinations, particularly India and Russia, weakened.

The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) recorded total exports of palm oil products at 3.188 million tonnes in July, down 2.67% from 3.275 million tonnes in June.

Executive Director of GAPKI, Mukti Sardjono, said the decline was reflected across several product categories. CPO exports fell 25.70% to 249,000 tonnes, from 335,000 tonnes in June.

Exports of processed palm oil products declined 2.57% to 2.296 million tonnes, while shipments of processed palm kernel oil products fell 14.60% to 99,000 tonnes.

Oleochemical exports, however, provided some support, rising 14.94% to 537,000 tonnes from 467,000 tonnes a month earlier.

“In the midst of this trend, oleochemical exports were one of the supporting factors,” Mukti said in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026.

India and Russia Lead the Decline

The weakness was particularly visible in several major destination markets.

Compared with June, Indonesia’s palm oil exports to India fell 20%, while shipments to Russia plunged 69%. Exports to Malaysia dropped 32%, Pakistan declined 17%, and Bangladesh fell 21%.

Other markets moved in the opposite direction. Shipments to the EU-27 increased 40%, while exports to Africa rose 17%. Deliveries to the United States increased 20%, and exports to China grew 4% from the previous month.

The divergent performance underscores the uneven nature of global palm oil demand, although the monthly figures do not by themselves explain the specific factors behind changes in individual destination markets.

Export Value Still Expands in 2026

Despite the July decline, Indonesia’s cumulative palm oil export performance remained positive during the first seven months of 2026.

Total exports from January through July reached 19.782 million tonnes, up 2.91% from 19.223 million tonnes during the same period in 2025.

Export value rose even more strongly, reaching US$23.26 billion, an increase of 10.92% from US$20.97 billion a year earlier.

The increase in export value coincided with higher average CPO prices. GAPKI reported an average CPO export price of US$1,137 per tonne for January-July 2026, compared with US$1,075 per tonne in the corresponding period of 2025.

In July alone, however, the average CPO export price edged down to US$1,168 per tonne from US$1,174 per tonne in June. Monthly export value also declined to US$3.81 billion from US$3.92 billion.

China Becomes a Key Growth Market

On a cumulative basis, China recorded the strongest export growth among the markets highlighted by GAPKI, with shipments increasing 30% compared with January-July 2025.

Exports to Malaysia rose 14%, while shipments to Africa increased 5%. Exports to the EU-27 grew 4%, and shipments to Russia edged up 2%.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s palm oil exports to India remained under pressure, falling 20% from the same period last year. Shipments to Pakistan declined 13%, the United States fell 4%, and exports to Bangladesh dropped 3%.

The combination of weaker monthly shipments and stronger cumulative performance illustrates the importance of separating short-term market movements from the broader annual trend.

While Indonesia’s palm oil exports remained on a positive trajectory through July, weaker shipments during the month indicate that shifting demand across key markets will remain an important factor for the country’s palm oil industry in the months ahead. (T2)