Note: Trade Minister Confirms Palm Oil and Coal Exports Still Require This Document

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Trade Minister Budi Santoso stressed that export policy continues to require an Export Approval (PE) from the Ministry of Trade, even though the government already has an Export Agency, PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia. “It’s still the same,” he said when asked by Budi Santoso at the Presidential Palace, Thursday (21 May 2026).

Export Approval is a business licence from the Ministry of Trade that exporters must hold for certain commodities. The obligation is set out in Minister of Trade Regulation Number 23 of 2023 on Export Policy and Regulation.

Earlier, Budi Santoso also explained that the new policy would not remove provisions relating to domestic fulfilment or Domestic Market Obligation (DMO).

Currently, the government applies the DMO for the packaging-mined cooking oil Minyakita for palm oil exports (CPO). A DMO is also applied to coal exports.

“(Is the DMO being revoked?) They all remain in place. Not being revoked,” he said at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs office, Jakarta, Thursday (21 May 2026).

He explained that the DMO would be channelled through PT DSI.

“Then, once fully implemented, the DMO via PT DSI (PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia) will automatically apply to exporters,” said Budi.

Furthermore, Budi Santoso also revealed that a new Minister of Trade Regulation concerning the governance of natural resource exports is being prepared, to be issued in the near future.

As is known, President Prabowo Subianto, while delivering the State Address at the 19th Plenary Session of the DPR RI concerning KEM and PPKF RAPBN 2027 in the 19th Plenary Session of the DPR RI for the 2025-2026 Session, at Nusantara Building MPR/DPR/DPD-RI, Jakarta, on Wednesday (20 May 2026), announced the issue of a new Government Regulation (PP) and the establishment of a new State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN) specifically for commodity exports.

With this new Government Regulation, Prabowo explained, all sales of natural resource outputs, from palm oil, coal, to ferroalloy, must be conducted through the state-owned enterprises designated by the Indonesian government, namely PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia.