The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) continues to boost the production and export of plantation commodities, especially coconut derivative products, especially coconut charcoal during the Covid-19 pandemic. This is in the context of accelerating the 3-fold Export Improvement Movement (Gratieks) until 2024.
“Coconut charcoal is widely used in addition to medicinal and pharmaceutical ingredients, it is also used as fuel for shisha/hookah or Arabic cigarettes in the Middle East Region, while in the European Region it is used as BBQ/barbaque fuel,” said Director General of Plantations of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono, Friday. (10/4).
Kasdi added, The potential of Indonesian coconut as the world’s number 1 producer needs to be utilized by strengthening downstreaming in producing coconut derivative products that can provide added value directly to farmers and expand market access.
In 2019, Indonesia’s coconut charcoal exports, including coconut charcoal, amounted to 188.05 thousand tons with an export value of USD 145.09 million.
“Indonesian coconut charcoal products are mostly exported to China, Brazil, Germany, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam,” he said.
One of the business actors or coconut charcoal processing industry, Our company Indonesia, which is located in Tujurhalang, Bogor, from March to April 2020 continues to produce to meet the demands of the European and Middle Eastern markets.
Our company Indonesia President Director Asep Jembar Mulyana said the supply of raw materials was still smooth and most of it was obtained from coconut farmers in the Tembilahan area, Indragiri Hilir Regency, Riau.
“Raw materials continue to be sent in 2-3 trucks per day to fulfill export orders in the next few months. So far the export volume has reached 500 tons/month and will be increased to 1,000 tons/month,” he said.
According to Asep Jembar, that on April 6, 2020, export containers were stuffed with a volume of 18 tons, on April 7, 2020, stuffing was carried out for the export market of Iraq and a number of countries in Europe with a volume of 45 tons, while on April 8, 2020, stuffing was carried out. export container to Valencia, Spain of 18 tons.
Meanwhile, Kasdi said the need for coconut charcoal or briquettes is very prospective and has the potential for market expansion, because until now the world’s briquette products, especially BBQ are still dominated by wood charcoal, and developed countries, which are the biggest consumers of this product, are well aware of how much damage to forests is. or trees cut down for charcoal briquettes.
“So in the future, the potential of Coconut Charcoal can be a substitute product for wood charcoal which does not damage nature and is safe for the environment,” said Kasdi.
Kasdi stated that it is necessary to expand market access for the export of coconut charcoal and other coconut derivative products with high added value but not yet widely developed in Indonesia such as VCO, Dessicated Coconut, coconut fiber, liquid smoke, isotonic water, CCO and coconut cooking oil. Currently, Indonesia exports more raw or semi-finished products such as copra, then the value added process is carried out by other countries.