InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Indonesia’s plan to strengthen oversight of commodity exports through a Single Export Gate mechanism has brought renewed attention to transparency, traceability and sustainability requirements in the global palm oil trade.
The initiative was discussed during the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) annual conference, RT2026, held in Jakarta on November 3–4, 2026. Discussions highlighted the need to align export governance with sustainability commitments and continued access to international markets.
PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia (DSI) Chief Executive Officer Luke Mahony said the proposed system was designed to strengthen the credibility of Indonesia’s commodity trade, rather than restrict business activities.
“We welcome this dialogue with RSPO because sustainability and market access must go hand in hand. DSI’s mandate is clear: we facilitate, not obstruct,” Mahony said during a special dialogue with RSPO.
Established by Danantara Indonesia in 2026, DSI is tasked with overseeing and managing exports of strategic commodities. The organisation plans to integrate trade ecosystem data with market information, including sustainability, supply, pricing and production.
The DSI intermediary model is scheduled to launch in January 2027. Under the arrangement, existing business relationships between buyers and sellers will remain in place, while DSI is expected to support export continuity and improve product traceability.
RSPO Highlights Transparency and Fire Management
Environmental accountability was another major topic at RT2026. Satellite analysis by Nusantara Atlas estimated that more than 1.9 million hectares of land in Indonesia had been burned or affected by fires between January and September 2026.
Dr David Gaveau, founder of TheTreeMap and developer of Nusantara Atlas, said approximately 14,500 hectares of affected land were located within RSPO-certified concessions, equivalent to around 0.8% of the national total.
RSPO Chief Executive Officer Joseph D’Cruz said the organisation would identify and investigate unusual fire patterns in specific concessions. He also noted that the data presented at the conference showed no burned areas on land managed by RSPO-certified independent smallholders.
D’Cruz encouraged RSPO members to communicate their fire prevention and response efforts more actively, stressing that transparency and evidence are essential to addressing public concerns.
Supporting Independent Smallholders
RT2026 also highlighted the role of independent smallholders, who account for nearly half of Indonesia’s palm oil production. Indonesia is home to around 77% of the world’s RSPO-certified independent smallholders.
RSPO recognised 45 newly certified independent smallholder groups from Colombia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru and Thailand. It also organised an Independent Smallholder Business Matching event to connect credit buyers with smallholder groups.
Kao Corporation, Nestlé S.A. and Unilever PLC were recognised for purchasing RSPO Credits between November 2025 and September 2026. First-time buyers Lakeland Dairies Co-operative Society Limited and Pitak Palm Oil Company Limited also received recognition.
The initiatives are expected to expand commercial opportunities for certified smallholders and strengthen their links with international buyers. (T2)
