Indonesia Exports Coconuts Even Though Domestic Prices Are Expensive
Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) emphasized that coconut exports will not be stopped even though domestic prices are expensive. He encouraged farmers to plant more so that there is no shortage and prices can be stable.
"(Expensive coconuts) are good for farmers, yes. The solution is to plant a lot," said Zulhas at the World of Coffee Jakarta 2025 event at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Senayan, Thursday (5/15/2025).
Zulhas said that the increase in coconut prices has actually triggered positive movements at the farmer level. Especially exports that give farmers incentives to replant so that the economic turnover of coconut farmers increases.
"No, no, no, there's no (stopping coconut exports). Farmers are doing a lot now, that's good," said Zulhas.
Zulhas said that the high price of coconuts in Indonesia is due to high export demand to China, to the point that domestic stocks are lacking. Indonesian coconuts are said to be processed into coconut milk in China.
"Coconuts are now rare because coconuts are processed into milk. So in China now people drink coffee not with milk, but with coconut milk, so coconuts are expensive," explained Zulhas.
Based on records, the price of grated coconut in a number of traditional markets has increased up to two-fold. As of April 11, 2025, the price of one grated coconut at Rawa Bebek Market, Bekasi, could reach IDR 25,000 depending on the size.
"Now it's IDR 20,000-25,000, depending on the size, if it's small it's IDR 20,000, if it's big it's IDR 25,000. When it's normal, the big one is at most IDR 15,000, the small one is IDR 10,000," said a seller named Usin when met at the location, Friday (11/4/2025).
Previously, the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) proposed implementing a moratorium on the export of whole coconuts for six months to stabilize domestic supply. This is considered necessary to implement a coconut governance policy, considering that the scarcity of raw materials has had an impact on the sustainability of industrial activities and the reduction of the workforce.
"In coordination meetings with ministries/institutions, we proposed the implementation of a moratorium on exports of whole coconuts as a short-term solution (3-6 months) to stabilize domestic supply," said the Director General of Agro Industry, Ministry of Industry, Putu Juli Ardika in a written statement, Friday (3/21/2025).
Post a Comment for "Indonesia Exports Coconuts Even Though Domestic Prices Are Expensive"