ID2023-0006 High commodity prices in the international market during the last term of 2022 are expected to impede the growth of 2022/23 Indonesian wheat imports and curb the use of wheat in feed formulation. The removal of most COVID-19 restrictions is expected to lead to improved consumer spending. Therefore, consumption of wheat and corn for Food, Seed and Industrial in 2022/23 and 2023/24 are forecast to increase. Forecasts of an early and longer dry season in 2023 will provide for better corn production while posing threats to paddy production which requires more water than corn.

ID2023-0005 Indonesia palm oil production for 2023/24 is forecast at 46 million metric tons (MMT), an increase of 3 percent from the previous year. Weather agencies are forecasting a developing El Nino weather pattern in the second half of 2023 that might bring on severe dryness. Soybean imports are expected to rise to 2.65 MMT for 2023/24 on continued rising demand from the soy-based food industry.

ID2023-0004 On February 6, the Government of Indonesia (GOI) announced it would suspend two-thirds of palm oil exports in order to shore up domestic cooking oil supplies ahead of Ramadan and Eid festivities. The GOI has set a target of increasing domestic cooking oil supplies by 50 percent. A projected 400,000 to 800,000 metric tons (MT) of Indonesian palm oil are expected to be blocked from the global market over the next three months.

ID2023-0002 Indonesia 2022/23 palm oil consumption is expected to rise to 19.4 million metric tons (MMT) on increased use for biodiesel production, as the Government of Indonesia (GOI) rolls out higher blending rates for its 2023 mandatory biodiesel blending program. The GOI is considering extending its soybean subsidy program into 2023, which would continue to impact the soybean market.

ID2023-0001 The Government of Indonesia is set to increase its biodiesel blending mandate from 30 percent to 35 percent in February 2023, a month later than initially announced. The new blending rate is expected to increase palm oil use for fuel to 12.5 million metric tons (MMT) based on the 2023 biodiesel allocation of 13.15 billion liters.

ID2022-0038 The Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) held the Halal 20 (H20) Forum in Semarang, Indonesia in November 2022. The forum covered a wide range of halal related issues and representatives from foreign embassies and 99 foreign halal certifying agencies (HCAs) joined in the discussions. This report summarizes some of the key points of the event.

ID2022-0002 The Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA) notified a draft decree to the WTO TBT Committee on January 6, 2022, as G/TBT/N/IDN/140 regarding materials that are exempted from mandatory halal certification. The comment deadline for this notification is March 6, 2022. Comments can be sent to Indonesia’s TBT Enquiry Point at [email protected] and [email protected].

ID2022-0001 On July 2, 2021, Indonesia notified Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA) Decree 748/2021 regarding Types of Products Mandatory to be Halal Certified as G/TBT/N/IDN/134 to the WTO TBT Committee and again on December 1, 2021 as G/TBT/N/IDN/134/Add.1. Although this decree entered into force January 1, 2022, its enforcement will not begin until October 17, 2024.

ID2021-0048 On December 1, 2021, the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs notified draft regulation G/TBT/N/IDN/139 to the WTO TBT Committee. The comment deadline on the measure regarding International Cooperation on Halal Product Assurance is January 29, 2022. Comments can be sent to Indonesia’s TBT Enquiry Point at [email protected] and [email protected],

ID2021-0045 Following the issuance of Government Regulation No. 39/2021, which is an implementing regulation of Law 33/2014 on Halal Product Assurance, the Government of Indonesia (GOI) published five implementing regulations. This report provides an overview of the five regulations and their potential implications for Indonesia’s trading partners.