Indonesia palm oil farmers push for fair TBS prices as CPO rises

The Indonesian Palm Oil Farmers Association (APKASINDO) reports that fresh fruit bunch (TBS) prices for growers have barely recovered even as crude palm oil (CPO) prices rise. Chair Dr. Gulat Medali Emas Manurung said monitoring across 25 regional offices showed only modest gains of Rp50‑Rp500 per kilogram since late May, far short of the Rp800‑Rp1,600 drop earlier in the month. He warned that falling TBS prices strain local economies in 168 palm‑oil‑producing districts, affecting around 17 million farmers and workers.

In North Padang Lawas, Sumatra Utara, price disparities among palm oil mills have sparked further concern. One mill raised its TBS price by Rp50/kg to Rp2,790, while another offered only Rp2,350‑Rp2,430. Deputy regional council member Samsul Bahri Daulay urged all mills to follow government pricing directives, noting that non‑compliance could lead to administrative penalties. Activists and the youth movement GKUPR also called for stricter oversight to protect farmers’ incomes.