Indonesia's Evita Nursanty Urges Palm Oil Exporters to Meet Domestic Demand First

Deputy Chairwoman of House Commission VII Evita Nursanty has called on palm oil exporters to prioritize meeting domestic cooking oil demand before focusing on overseas markets.

Nursanty made this request during a visit by members of the commission to PT Berkah Emas Sumber Terang (BEST) in Semarang, where she emphasized the strategic role that palm oil processing and downstream industries play in Indonesia's economy.

She noted that while Indonesia has the capacity to produce value-added products and penetrate international markets, it is crucial to meet domestic needs first. Central Java's cooking oil consumption reached 566 tons per day, making it essential to avoid shortages.

The deputy chair also highlighted Indonesia's palm oil production figures, with 24.45 million kiloliters produced in 2025, exceeding national demand of 5.9 million kiloliters or about 25 percent of total production.