Indonesia seizes tanker over palm oil export ban violation

The Indonesian Navy captured a tanker that was transporting palm oil out of the country in contravention of an export restriction according to a spokeswoman.

Last week, Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of palm oil, banned its export to control surging domestic prices and shortages.

An Indonesian warship intercepted the Singapore-flagged MV Mathu Bhum on its way to Malaysia on Wednesday, according to Navy spokesperson Agung Prasetiawan in a press release.

“The ship was carrying… 34 containers containing refined, bleached, deodorized (RBD) palm olein. This is the type of material that is temporarily prohibited for exports,” he added.

Indonesia produces about 60 percent of the world’s palm oil, which is used in a range of products such as cosmetics and chocolate spreads. A third of its output is consumed domestically.

Vegetable oils are among the staple food items that have seen prices hit record highs in recent weeks following Russia’s invasion of agricultural powerhouse Ukraine, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Producers in Indonesia have been reluctant to sell at home recently because exporting is more profitable currently because of high international prices.

But authorities in the archipelago stepped in to try and control prices, fearing public anger as consumers in several cities were forced to queue for hours at distribution centres to buy cooking oil at subsidised rates.

The Indonesian export ban sent prices of palm, soybean, European rapeseed and canola oils to historic highs.

It intends to resume exports after the local bulk price of cooking oil falls to 14,000 rupiah (97 cents), from 26,000 rupiah in recent weeks.

By Friday, the price had decreased to 17,200 rupiah.