Amran Targets Indonesia's Self-Sufficiency in Consumption Sugar by 2027 at the Latest

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman has targeted Indonesia to achieve self-sufficiency in consumption sugar by no later than 2027. He stated this during a working meeting with Commission VI of the House of Representatives (DPR RI).

He said that consumption sugar is an important commodity in the national food system that must be strengthened immediately amid rising needs.

“Among all the food commodities we manage, consumption sugar holds a very important position,” Amran said during the working meeting at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/4/2026).

Amran explained that the current national sugar needs reach 6.7 million tonnes, consisting of 3.9 million tonnes for industry and 2.8 million tonnes for consumption. Meanwhile, white crystal sugar production is estimated at only 2.67 million tonnes from a harvested area of 563,000 hectares with productivity of 4.74 tonnes.

“Thus, we still need 4.03 million tonnes,” he stated.

He emphasised that increasing productivity is the main key to achieving the self-sufficiency target. One of the main problems found in the field is the condition of sugarcane plants that have already been harvested or ratoon.

“Actually, this is just 2025, Mr President asked to increase productivity. The main problem in the sugar sector is the ratoon. That’s 80% ratoon 10 or 7, meaning age 7 years, 10 or even 20 years but back to ratoon 4,” he explained.

He mentioned that the results of checks show that the majority of sugarcane plants are no longer viable.

“We, after checking, 70%-80% are damaged, so not viable,” he said.

Amran assessed that rejuvenation of plants is an absolute step to increase productivity. “It should be 25% we dismantle every year, that’s absolute if we want high productivity,” he stressed.

For this, the government is preparing a large-scale ratoon dismantling programme.

“Now, Madam Chair, the solution is that we have taken steps together with the private sector and PTPN (PT Perkebunan Nusantara) we allocate 100,000 hectares one year,” Amran said.

“We allocate in 2025 Rp1.7 trillion and that’s a state budget grant for dismantling people’s ratoon. We are confident, insya Allah, if this is consistent, by 2027 we will have self-sufficiency in white sugar, then we continue to industry,” he added.

After the meeting, Amran added that the ratoon dismantling programme will be carried out gradually targeting unproductive sugarcane land.

“This year we plan 100 thousand hectares,” Amran said.

He explained that the programme is designed to run for three years with government budget support already prepared.

“Yesterday it was Rp1.7 trillion per year, continuously we will dismantle 300 thousand hectares (3 years, 100 thousand hectares per year), because the problematic ones are 300 thousand hectares,” he said.

According to him, improving people’s sugarcane plants will directly impact production increases.

“If this is dismantled, production increase is certainly insya Allah certain. That’s 80% we improve, people’s sugarcane,” he said.

He reiterated the target of self-sufficiency in consumption sugar can be achieved soon.

“The production increase clearly by no later than 2027 we are self-sufficient in white sugar. Subsequently we pay off until industrial sugar,” he said.

Amran also mentioned that the gap between production and consumption sugar needs is now getting smaller.

“It’s just 200 thousand tonnes left, insya Allah hopefully. If I, hopefully this year, but at the latest next year,” Amran revealed.

“Because now production 2.7 (million tonnes) or 2.6 million tonnes, consumption should be 2.8-2.9 million tonnes per year, so safe,” he concluded.