Indonesia Palm Oil Export by Country and Top Exporters 2025

Sophia

Indonesia palm oil exports $21.81B based on Indonesia customs trade data in 2025. Pakistan and China lead buying. Company-level trade data on yTrade.

Key Takeaways

  • Indonesia palm oil export total value: $21.81 billion across 27,550 shipments in 2025 bases on Indonesia customs data
  • Refined/processed palm oil (HS 151190): $20.15 billion — 92.4% of HS 1511 export value
  • Crude palm oil (HS 151110): $1.66 billion — 7.6% of value
  • Pakistan (13.2%), China (11.3%), India (9.6%) are the top three buyer countries for refined palm oil

Indonesia is the world's largest palm oil producer and exporter, accounting for approximately 59% of global palm oil supply. Palm oil and its derivatives are Indonesia's most valuable agricultural export category. The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) reported total palm oil product exports of $35.87 billion in 2025 — a 29.23% increase — with export volume reaching 32.34 million tonnes. [GAPKI Palm Oil Statistics, 2025] yTrade customs data for HS 1511 palm oil specifically records $21.81 billion across 27,550 shipments, capturing the commodity-grade palm oil trade flows through verified customs channels.

Indonesia Palm Oil Export Value and Volume in 2025

Indonesia palm oil export data shows a total value of $21.81B moved across 27,550 shipments. This represents a dramatic -84% decline in value from the prior year, while the number of shipments increased by over 20%. This divergence between plummeting total value and rising shipment frequency indicates severe pricing and margin pressure, as significantly more individual cargo movements were required to generate far less aggregate revenue.

Table: Indonesia Palm Oil Export Value, Weight, Unit Price(Source: yTrade)

Metric 2025 2024 YoY Change
Total Value 21.81B USD 132.74B USD -83.57%
Total Weight 21.09B kg 19.38B kg +8.82%
Frequency 27.55K 22.89K +20.35%
Avg Unit Price $1.03/kg $6.85/kg -84.90%

Refined vs. Crude Palm Oil: What Indonesia Exports

In 2025, Indonesia's palm oil exports consisted almost entirely of processed oil. The vast majority, valued at $20.15 billion (92.4% share), was "Vegetable oils; palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified" (HS 151190). A minor share, worth $1.66 billion (7.6%), was crude palm oil (HS 151110). This structure shows exports are heavily skewed toward processed, bulk commodity oil rather than raw crude. The market is highly concentrated, with the refined/processed category overwhelmingly dominant, indicating a downstream industry focused on exporting a standardized, intermediate product for further manufacturing or packaging abroad.

  • HS 151190 — Refined, bleached, and deodorized (RBD) palm oil: Export value: $20.15 billion — 92.4% of HS 1511

    • Used in food manufacturing, instant noodles, margarine, confectionery, and personal care products. Requires further processing by buyers for specific end uses.
  • HS 151110 — Crude palm oil (CPO): Export value: $1.66 billion — 7.6% of HS 1511

    • Purchased by buyers with domestic refining capability (notably India and European Union countries)

Indonesia's heavy shift toward refined products reflects government policy incentives for downstream palm oil processing — crude export levies are higher than refined product levies, encouraging domestic refining before export.

Table: Indonesia HS Code 1511) Export Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

HS Code Product Description Value Weight Quantity Frequency Value Ratio
151190 Vegetable oils; palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified 20.15B 19.50B 19.16B 26.65K 92.41%
151110 Vegetable oils; palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified 1.66B 1.59B 1.59B 901.00 7.59%

Which Countries Import Palm Oil from Indonesia

Indonesia’s palm oil exports (HS 1511) are diversified across major Asian economies, with Pakistan (13.2% value share), China (11.3%), India (9.6%), Bangladesh (6.6%), and the United States (5.9%) as the top five destinations; no single market exceeds 50%, indicating a healthy spread of risk across multiple large-scale consumers and processors.

Top buyers of refined palm oil (HS 151190)

Top destinations: Pakistan (USD 2.87B, 13.3% weight share), China (USD 2.47B, 11.8%), Bangladesh (USD 1.44B, 6.6%), United States (USD 1.29B, 5.9%), Egypt (USD 1.03B, 5.0%). Pakistan’s high shipment frequency suggests steady demand for bulk supply to its domestic food and oleochemical industries. China’s large volume aligns with its role as a major processing hub for refined products. Bangladesh and Egypt serve as key regional markets for direct consumption in cooking oil and food manufacturing, while the U.S. imports likely cater to specific food-service and industrial biodiesel blending requirements.

Top buyers of crude palm oil (HS 151110)

Top destinations: India (USD 1.55B), Netherlands (USD 36.87M), Germany (USD 30.08M), Italy (USD 15.92M), Malaysia (USD 15.01M). India dominates as a primary market for this specific palm oil fraction, driven by its massive food processing and vanaspati (hydrogenated oil) industry. The Netherlands acts as a major European gateway and distribution hub for onward logistics. Germany and Italy represent demand from specialized food manufacturers and likely niche oleochemical applications. Shipments to Malaysia may involve re-export processing or serve specific manufacturing contracts within the regional supply chain.

Table: Indonesia Palm Oil Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

HS Code Country Value Quantity Frequency Weight
151190 PAKISTAN 2.87B 2.80B 3.57K 2.80B
CHINA MAINLAND 2.47B 2.47B 640.00 2.48B
BANGLADESH 1.44B 1.39B 597.00 1.39B
UNITED STATES 1.29B 1.24B 616.00 1.25B
EGYPT 1.03B 1.05B 474.00 1.05B
151110 INDIA 1.55B 1.49B 756.00 1.49B
NETHERLANDS 36.87M 33.00M 36.00 33.00M
GERMANY 30.08M 28.00M 55.00 28.00M
ITALY 15.92M 13.00M 4.00 13.00M
MALAYSIA 15.01M 13.40M 25.00 13.40M

Indonesia Palm Oil Top Exporters

Indonesia palm oil top exporters includes: Sari Dumai Sejati, Wilmar Nabati Indonesia, Kutai Refinery Nusantara.

  • Top 1: SARI DUMAI SEJATI | Total palm oil export value: 1.51B | Quantity: 1.69B | Export Frequency: 754
  • Top 2: WILMAR NABATI INDONESIA | Total palm oil export value: 1.39B | Quantity: 1.33B | Export Frequency: 635
  • Top 3: KUTAI REFINERY NUSANTARA | Total palm oil export value: 1.34B | Quantity: 1.30B | Export Frequency: 674

In 2025, the export market shows a highly concentrated supplier structure. A core group of repeat, large-volume shippers accounted for over 84% of export value. Infrequent bulk shippers represented about 11% of value, while frequent small-lot and occasional shippers together made up less than 5%. This heavy reliance on a small group of suppliers indicates a significant concentration risk.

Table: Indonesia Palm Oil (HS Code 1511) Top Suppliers List (Source: yTrade)

Supplier Company Value Quantity Frequency Weight
SARI DUMAI SEJATI 1.51B 1.69B 754.00 1.69B
WILMAR NABATI INDONESIA 1.39B 1.33B 635.00 1.33B
KUTAI REFINERY NUSANTARA 1.34B 1.30B 674.00 1.30B

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Indonesia still the world's largest palm oil exporter?

Yes. Indonesia accounts for approximately 59% of global palm oil supply. GAPKI reported total palm oil product exports of $35.87 billion in 2025, up 29.23% year-on-year.

What type of palm oil does Indonesia export?

Indonesia’s exports were dominated by processed palm oil (HS 151190) at 92.4% share ($20.15B), with crude palm oil (HS 151110) making up the remaining 7.6% ($1.66B).

What is the difference between refined palm oil (HS 151190) and crude palm oil (HS 151110)?

Crude palm oil (CPO) is the raw oil extracted from the palm fruit before any processing. Refined palm oil (RBD) has undergone refining, bleaching, and deodorizing to remove impurities and free fatty acids. Indonesia exports overwhelmingly RBD refined oil (92.4%) rather than CPO (7.6%).

Who are the main buyers for Indonesia palm oil?

The top destinations were Pakistan (13.2%), China (11.3%), and India (9.6%), reflecting diversified demand across Asia.

Why does Pakistan import so much refined palm oil from Indonesia?

Pakistan is one of Asia's largest vegetable oil importers relative to population. Limited domestic oilseed production and a large food manufacturing sector create structural import dependency. Refined palm oil from Indonesia is price-competitive relative to alternatives such as soybean oil or sunflower oil.

Who are the biggest palm oil exporter companies in Indonesia?

yTrade's cutoms data identify the top exporting companies in Indonesia under HS 1511, including Wilmar Nabati Indonesia, Sari Dumai Sejati, and Kutai Refinery Nusantara among the largest by export value.

How do I source palm oil directly from Indonesian exporters?

yTrade provides verified exporter company data with shipment history for Indonesia HS 1511. Search the Indonesia palm oil data page to identify exporters by volume, product type, and destination market.

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Sophia

yTrade contributor

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