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This article explores the trends of crude palm oil Indonesia export from 2018 to early 2025. Indonesia remains the world’s largest producer and exporter of palm oil, with crude palm oil forming a critical pillar of its agricultural economy. However, the early months of 2025 have seen significant volatility in this sector, with declining export volumes, shifting global demand, tighter regulations, and fierce competition from neighboring Malaysia.
Crude palm oil, alongside other animal and vegetable oils, has long been Indonesia’s dominant export category.
Use our Global Trade Search Tool to explore the detailed crude palm oil Indonesia export trade records, including verified buyers, suppliers, shipment value and volume, and more.
What are the crude palm oil Indonesia export value statistic from 2018?
The value of crude palm oil Indonesia export has been on a downward trajectory after its peak in 2022. From 2018 to 2022, the figure has consistently remained above $5.5 billion. However, afterward, it gradually dropped below this threshold.
| Indonesia’s Crude Palm Oil Export Value (2018–Q1 2025) | |
|---|---|
| Year | Export Value (USD$ billion) |
| 2018 | 🔒 Subscribe to unlock full trade insights |
| 2019 | 🔒 Subscribe to unlock full trade insights |
| 2020 | 6.11 |
| 2021 | 6.30 |
| 2022 | 5.95 |
| 2023 | 5.42 |
| 2024 | 5.15 |
| Q1 2025 | 🔒 Subscribe to unlock full trade insights |
This downward trend was attributed to multiple factors:
• Factor 1: Seasonal holidays and adverse weather conditions. In March, many workers took time off to observe Ramadan and other local holidays. Simultaneously, the wet season continued across large parts of the country, further hindering harvesting operations and logistics.
• Factor 2: Strong increase in domestic demand. Exports of crude palm oil and refined palm oils from Indonesia fell by nearly 2% between February and March, as local consumption increased due to Ramadan.
• Factor 3: EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requires all products entering the EU market to be deforestation-free, legally compliant, fully documented, and traceable. Requirements such as geolocation reporting, separating compliant and non-compliant supply chains, and proving land legality create a significant administrative burden, particularly for smallholders.
• Factor 4: Indonesia’s export of crude palm oil also faces intense competition from Malaysia, as the latter strengthens its downstream palm oil industries, such as oleochemicals and biofuels. Another advantage is that Malaysia has actively promoted sustainable palm oil production through initiatives such as the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme, which makes its products more competitive in developed economies.
A closer look at the global crude palm oil price
Global crude palm oil price peaked in December 2024 at $1,200 per metric ton. This surge was largely driven by adverse weather in both Indonesia and Malaysia, which caused widespread disruption to harvesting activities. Also, sustained heavy rainfall reduced production and tightened global inventories.
Entering 2025, the figure continued to rise. By mid-May, crude palm oil was trading at approximately $915 per metric ton. This price climbed to around $980 per metric ton by the final week of June, marking a 5% increase from early June when it was $930 per metric ton. This steady rally reflects growing market optimism and steady buying interest.
What is the prediction for the crude palm oil price? In the coming time, the crude palm oil price is expected to remain steady, primarily due to a persistent supply deficit. The inventory level is likely to fall sharply year-on-year, causing prices to remain high. In addition, Indonesia’s increasing domestic biodiesel blending mandates (B40 and plans toward B50) continue to demand significant palm oil volumes, thereby limiting exportable supply and sustaining price support.
Which are the leading export companies of Indonesia's crude palm oil?
In the first quarter of 2025, the www.tradeint.com data source identified the five most active exporters of Indonesia’s crude palm oil. They are:
• Incasi Raya
• PT Sinar Alam Permai
• Mekar Sarri Alam Lestari
• PT Citra Borneo Utama Tbk
• PT Sari Dumai Sejati
They collectively accounted for more than 62% of Indonesia’s crude palm oil exports during this period. These companies also play a significant role in the export of related palm oil products, including refined palm oil, palm kernel oil, and palm olein. These companies are the key enablers that help Indonesia’s crude palm oil reach a broader group of consumers across both regional and international export markets.
Top 5 crude palm oil Indonesia export destination countries
| Indonesia’s Crude Palm Oil Export Value (2018–Q1 2025) | |
|---|---|
| Year | Export Value (USD$ billion) |
| 2018 | 🔒 Subscribe to unlock full trade insights |
| 2019 | 🔒 Subscribe to unlock full trade insights |
| 2020 | 6.11 |
| 2021 | 6.30 |
| 2022 | 5.95 |
| 2023 | 5.42 |
| 2024 | 5.15 |
| Q1 2025 | 🔒 Subscribe to unlock full trade insights |
Which country was the largest crude palm oil Indonesia export market by value?
#1. India - $5.11 billion
According to records from the World Bank, in 2023, Indonesia exported around 3.1 million metric tons of crude palm oil to India, valued at around $2.63 billion. This marked a 10% increase compared to 2022’s figure, which was around $2.88 billion.
Palm oil continues to be the most important edible oil for India, representing more than half of the country’s oil imports. Indonesia’s crude palm oil is particularly attractive due to its competitive pricing, long shelf life, and neutral taste, which are all vital for large-scale consumption. India has attempted to promote domestic cultivation of palm oil, but the country’s terrain and climate have proven largely unsuitable.
Exports of crude palm oil to India are expected to have very limited growth. Indonesia’s plan to fund biodiesel subsidies and facilitate its expanding biodiesel blending requirement (B40 in 2025 and potentially moving forward to B50) will expand domestic consumption, thus diminishing the exportable supply available. The Indonesian government has also raised the export levy for crude palm oil to 10% from 7.5% in May 2025, which will further impact exports.
#2. Malaysia - $91 million
| Malaysia’s Imports of Crude Palm Oil (2020–2025) | |
|---|---|
| Year | Import Value (USD$ million) |
| 2020 | 257.8 |
| 2021 | 62.8 |
| 2022 | 12.18 |
| 2023 | 27.66 |
| 2024 | 🔒 Unlock full trade insights |
| 2025 | 🔒 Unlock full trade insights |
#3. Kenya - 57 million
#4. Uganda - $33 million
The East African country stood as the second-largest importer of Indonesia’s crude palm oil. Uganda’s imports of palm oil have been significant since the country relies heavily on external sources. Uganda’s domestic palm oil production has long failed to meet the demand of both its local and neighboring consumers, despite the country’s weather being suitable for cultivation.
Due to this heavy demand, the potential to expand Indonesia’s crude palm oil presence in Uganda remains high. However, it may shift to suppliers from Malaysia and other alternative sources with better price competitiveness. In May and again, in June‒July 2025, Indonesia raised its export levy on CPO to 10% from 7.5% (effective May 17). This can lead to higher crude palm oil prices, which impacts its attractiveness abroad, especially given that Uganda is categorized as a developing country.


