PG Meritjan Kediri targets crushing 2.5 million quintals of sugarcane by 2026

PG Meritjan Kediri in East Java aims to crush 2.5 million quintals of sugarcane by the 2026 harvest season, up from 2.2 million quintals in 2025.

General Manager Tites Agung Priyono said on Saturday that the crushing process has already begun, with a target of 2.5 million quintals and a 7.5% recovery rate for 2026. “We are confident this target can be achieved due to government support for the CPCL (prospective farmers and locations) and ratoon removal programme we started last year,” he said in Kediri.

The company is collaborating with partners, including farmers under the PG Meritjan Kediri branch of the Indonesian Sugarcane Farmers Association (APTR), to ensure a successful 2026 crushing season.

PG Meritjan Kediri commenced the crushing season with a “manten tebu” ceremony at the plant, a tradition resembling a wedding ceremony where participants dress as bride and groom. This is part of local customs to ensure smooth operations.

“Alhamdulillah, the ceremony went smoothly and we are ready for the 2026 crushing season,” Priyono added.

Director of Human Resources at PT SGN Affan Safiq also expressed confidence in meeting the target, citing strong management preparations and extensive coordination with farmers and the local community. He noted a 99.03% readiness score from the general steam test across all machinery stations, indicating the plant’s preparedness to support sugar self-sufficiency.

“We are confident PG Meritjan will recover and turn a profit this year,” he said.

APTR Chairman Mahmud Pujianto confirmed the association’s support for the mill’s operations, stating PG Meritjan is Kediri’s oldest company and vital to the local economy. He added that the mill’s contracted farmers are committed to supplying high-quality, sweet, clean, and fresh sugarcane.