KAI expands 2026 rail shipments of palm oil and fertilizer to strengthen Indonesia’s biodiesel and food supply

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) transported 374,098 tonnes of plantation cargo, mainly crude palm oil (CPO), from January to July 2026, an 18 % increase over the same period in 2025. July 2026 alone saw 51,741 tonnes moved, up 24.5 % from July 2025. The growth supports the government’s mandatory B50 biodiesel program launched by President Prabowo Subianto on 9 July 2026, which will require roughly 15‑16 million tonnes of CPO annually and is projected to save foreign‑exchange, create jobs and cut CO₂ emissions.

In the same period KAI hauled 13,920 tonnes of fertilizer, a 2.43 % rise year‑on‑year, with July 2026 deliveries reaching 1,800 tonnes – five times the volume in July 2025. The increased rail logistics aid the government’s subsidised fertilizer allocation (9.55 million tonnes for 2026, 54 % already distributed by late June) and aim to stabilise rice prices and ensure food‑security for Indonesian families. Both reports were quoted by KAI’s Vice President of Corporate Communication, Anne Purba.