Mamuju – The exports of palm oil and derivative products managed to earn Rp2.3 trillion in foreign exchange until August this year, which is the largest in West Sulawesi (Sulbar) province, Mamuju’s Agricultural Quarantine Head Agus Karyono said.
“The palm oil and derivative products have become the biggest contributor of foreign exchange in Sulbar, generating higher economic growth in the regency,” Agus Karyono said in Mamuju on Thursday, 01 September 2022.
He said that based on its IQ-Fast data, the agricultural quarantine agency’s Mamuju office has certified a total of 184,000 tons of crude palm oil (CPO) and derivative products with a total value of Rp2.3 trillion during the period of January – August 2022.
The derivative products consist of refined bleached deodorized (RBD) palm olein at 132,000 tons, RBD palm Stearin at 46,000 tons, palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) 4,000 tons and RBD palm oil 1,750 tons.
“During the period, RBD palm olein contributes Rp1.7 trillion, followed by RBD palm stearin at Rp505.8 billion, PFAD at Rp57.3 billion and RBD palm oil at Rp21.6 billion,” said Agus Karyono.
According to him, the palm oil products from Sulbar province were exported to 11 countries, namely China, Philippines, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, Denmark, Jordan and Yemen.
The palm oil products are usually exported through Tanjung Bakau seaport in Pasangkayu regency and Belang-Belang seaport in Mamuju regency.
But Agus said that actually the palm oil exports this year decreased from those of the same period last year. “It’s because of the government’s CPO export ban policy and the priority to meet local needs. But then the exports rose gradually after the government lifted the export ban policy since 23 May 2022,” he said.
Generally, he said, Sulbar has nine main exports of agricultural commodities, namely olein, stearin, PFAD, oil, palm shells, coffee, broom sticks, coconut shell briquettes, and durian fruits.
“The exports of palm oil and derivative products have become the largest contributor of foreign exchange, accounting for more than 90% of total export earnings,” he said.
PT TSL Plant Manager Eka Prasetyawan said that he is optimistic this year exports will gradually get much better.
“The recovery of national and global economies from the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic and high demand for palm oil products from country destinations make us optimistic that the exports this year will be improving,” said Eka Prasetyawan. (*)
Source: antaranews.com | Featured image via businessday.ng
