Palm Oil Exports Targeted at 12 Million Tons
Monday, 18 December, 2006 | 14:54 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The government is targeting palm oil exports in 2010 of as much as 12 million tons out of total production of 18 million tons per year.

The remainder is to meet domestic demand.

Ahmad Manggabarani, Director General of Plantations at the Agriculture Department, said the government has made export and production projections for this prima donna agriculture commodity every five years.

For exports, he said, in 2010 these would reach 12.5 million tons, in 2015 they would rise by 25 percent or around 15 million tons, and in 2020, 16 million tons.

From the production requirement aspect, Ahmad said that the Agriculture Department has projected that in 2010 it would be 18 million tons, in 2015, 21 million tons and in 2020, it would rise by 15 percent or to 24 million.

“We are optimistic that the palm oil plantation revitalization will probably be the most successful,” he said.

For domestic demand, Ahmad detailed that in 2010 this would be 5 million tons, in 2015, 6.5 million tons and in 2020, 6.5 million tons.

“So far palm oil production has reached 13 million tons, exports 10 million tons and domestic demand fulfillment 3.5 million tons,” he said.

Measures related to land extension and revitalization, said Ahmad, will be started next year in several locations including Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, North Sumatra, Jambi, Riau, Riau Islands, West Sumatra, Banten, Bali, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi, Papua and West Irian Jaya.

“Each location will be increased by between 10 and 20 percent on average from the current size, and revitalization will be carried out at between 10 and 15 percent of the existing situation,” he said.

INDRA MR