Export prospects for Indonesian palm oil in 2019 looks positive amid global economy slowdown and trade barriers in some export destination countries. According to Chairman of Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) Joko Supriyono, palm oil industry remains promising because of huge contribution of crude palm oil (CPO) export. Exporters has also set their eyes on wooing more buyers from non-traditional markets apart from Europe.

An in-depth analysis by International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Oil Palm Task Force says banning palm oil would most likely increase the production of other oil crops to meet global demand for vegetable oil.

INDONESIAN state energy company PT Pertamina has signed agreements with Italian oil company Eni SpA to develop a so-called green refinery in Indonesia and to process a palm-based fuel mixture in Italy. The signing agreement in Rome, Italy, Wednesday (30/1/2019), included three agreements.

PRESIDENT Director of the Indonesian Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) Dono Boestami reiterated his view that palm oil has significantly contributed to economic benefits and to UN\'s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dono\'s statement came as he spoke at the Palm Oil Stakeholder Forum in the International Green Week Berlin in Berlin, Germany, (22/1/2019). "Palm oil sector has contributed to economic benefits such as economic growth, export and trade balance increase, inflation decrease, and to replace fossil-based fuel with renewable energy to increase national energy security," Dono said. Palm oil contribution to Indonesia trade balance is significant.

The Indonesian Palm Oil Board (DMSI) has made formal decision to support the government to refuse a concept proposed by the European Union Commision on Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) and Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) that will classify palm oil as a high risk vegetable oil. On it press release, (29/1/2019), DMSI said that it will not involve in any discussion on RED II and ILUC, both in local and international stage.

Professor of the Faculty of Forestry of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Yanto Santosa, reiterated his view that oil palm plantations are not the cause of deforestation in Indonesia since they were not derived from forest area. Yanto\'s statement came as he spoke at the International Green Week Berlin 2019 in Berlin, Germany (22/1/2019).

A group of Indonesian palm oil researchers have signed a statement publicly expressing their skepticism about a study that likens palm oil with tobacco and alcohol industries.

A world leader in peatlands management with Germany\'s University of Greifswald Hans Joosten praised Indonesia for peatlands restoration.

Indonesian delegation at International Green Week Berlin 2019 held a palm oil stakeholders meeting to share knowledge of palm oil with international community. The Palm Oil Stakeholder Forum was held at the International Green Week Berlin 2019 in Berlin, Germany, 22 January 2019.

Foreign Ministry held a brief session for Indonesian ambassador and consul general candidates on leading strategic commodities, including palm oil, to give a broader view of the commodities.

The Indonesian Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) collaborated with Indonesian palm oil businesses took part in the 4th Pakistan Edible Oil Conference (PEOC) and Price Outlook 2019 in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday (19/1/2019), to promote Indonesian palm oil products. At the conference attended by global edible oil businesspeople, BPDPKS had a stand to provide information about Indonesian sustainable palm oil, included information about palm oil products and its derivatives. Indonesian delegation at the conference included Indonesian Ambassador to Pakistan Iwan Suyudhie Amri and representatives of Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI).