Jakarta (ANTARA) \u2014 Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)\nare seen as having opportunities to produce creative, high-value goods\nfrom palm oil and its derivatives.<\/p>\n
Helmi Muhansyah, head of the Community and MSME Cooperation Division\nat the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP), said there\nwere 200 types of palm oil derivatives that could serve as primary or\nsecondary raw materials for products ranging from food and handicrafts\nto batik.<\/p>\n
Palm oil, he added in a statement issued in Jakarta on Saturday, is\none of Indonesia\u2019s strategic commodities and plays a role in driving the\neconomy, including the MSME sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is why MSMEs can continue to innovate, expand their markets and\ncreate broader economic opportunities,\u201d he said at the 2026 Palm Oil\nJournalists and MSMEs Week in Malang, East Java, themed \u201cTelling the\nStory of Good Palm Oil with the Media and MSMEs\u201d.<\/p>\n
The event, supported by BPDP, brought together journalists and MSME\nowners and introduced the potential of palm oil derivatives to support\nlocal business development.<\/p>\n
Palm oil derivatives include cooking oil, margarine, creamer and\ncocoa butter substitute, as well as biodiesel, which can be used by\nindustry and MSMEs, Helmi said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsing palm-based materials gives MSMEs opportunities to develop\ninnovative products with added value,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Helmi also said palm oil was a key pillar of Indonesia\u2019s\nmacroeconomic fundamentals, accounting for 9 per cent of the country\u2019s\ntotal non-oil and gas exports. He described it as a main driver of\nenergy downstreaming and a source of employment for millions of\npeople.<\/p>\n
Markus Susanto, chairman of the Indonesian Oleochemical Producers\nAssociation (Apolin), said many small-business products used\noleochemicals derived from palm oil, such as fatty acids, soap noodles\nand glycerine.<\/p>\n
Many everyday products used from morning until night contain\noleochemicals, including soap, cosmetics, shampoo, detergents and\npersonal-care products, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurrently, oleochemical products account for nearly 70 per cent of\nthe export market, while 30 per cent is used to meet domestic demand.\nTheir contribution to export earnings is between US$5 billion and US$6\nbillion a year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Prof Susinggih Wijana, a professor in the Department of Agricultural\nIndustrial Technology at Brawijaya University, said palm oil\nby-products, including waste, presented opportunities for MSMEs to\nprocess them into new products. Reusing palm oil waste, he said, was\nalso part of the circular economy.<\/p>\n
He said MSMEs could use palm oil waste to make animal feed, from\nproduction through to distribution. Small and medium-sized businesses\ncould also produce soap on a small to medium scale using palm oil\nderivatives.<\/p>\n
Qayuum Amri, editor-in-chief of Sawit Indonesia magazine, said the\nmedia and MSMEs could work together to extend the reach of MSME products\nand improve public understanding of palm oil\u2019s benefits.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope we can support one another and grow together, both MSME\nowners and our media colleagues,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bpdp-says-palm-oil-derivatives-add-value-for-msmes-1792831950", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }