InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA –It is normal that heading to Ramadhan days, and Idul Fitri, the crude palm oil (CPO) demands increase. But it was different and changing. The CPO exports in May just increased 2% only or from 2,56 million tonsin April increased to be 2,62 million tons pada May. While the exports from Indonesia in January May 2017 increased 29% compared to the same period in last year, or from 9,35 million tonsincreasedto be 12,10 million tons. This showed, the exports from Indonesia still increased though the negative campaign keeps runing on about palm oil.

The relative high exports keep decreasing the stock of palm oil from Indonesia for there is no good production. The CPO and palm kernel oil (PKO) production just increased 8% or from 3,08 million tonsin April increased to be 3,33 million tonsin May. Though the production gets better, but it is not maximal yet.

Indonesian Palm Oil Association (IPOA) noted, biodiesel industries are stagnant and tend to decrease. In Maythe biodiesel production just reached 171,9 thousand tonsor decreased 26% compared to the previous month, which reached 232,5 thousand tons.

This also influenced the biodiesel absorption. In May biodiesel was just absorbed about 141,75 thousand tonsor decreased 38% compared to the previous month,which reached 227,72 thousand tons. While the production was also stagnant in January – May 2017 compared to the same period in last year.

The biodiesel production in January – May 2016 reached 1,05 million tons. In the same period in 2017 it decreasedto be 1,03 million tons. “The decreasing biodiesel absorption in May might happen for the delayed announcement by PT Pertamina and the long process of administration,” Executive Director of IPOA, Fadhil Hasan said in the official statement whichInfoSAWITgot.(T2)