Trade Minister Budi Santoso sent off 13 containers of export consignments of kratom products made by PT Oneject Indonesia to the US and Europe, weighing 351 tons with a total value of US$1.053 million.
"Kratom is indeed a unique commodity," he remarked at the exporter's office in Bekasi District, West Java, on Friday.
Santoso highlighted that the exported kratom is in the form of finished products rather than sheets of leaves, aligning with Trade Minister's Regulation No. 21 of 2024 concerning the types and sizes of kratom eligible for export.
The minister then stated that Indonesian kratom farmers suffered losses and missed economic opportunities in the absence of a regulation prohibiting the export of this commodity in its raw form.
He pointed out that in the past, Indonesian farmers encountered a range of issues from exporting raw leaves, such as degradation in the quality of kratom leaves and unfavorable prices.
Moreover, importing countries tended to gain more benefits by exporting the kratom leaves they procured from Indonesia to third parties in the form of finished products.
He remarked that the government then responded to this issue by organizing limited meetings, which resulted in several regulations, including the aforementioned one.
"In essence, kratom leaves are eligible for export only in the form of crumbs or powder that measure less than 600 microns. Kratom measuring above that is considered a raw product," he elaborated.
He also drew attention to the government's natural resources' downstreaming policy, suggesting that Indonesians export kratom products of even higher value.
Furthermore, Santoso expressed optimism that the existing regulation would help farmers and industries achieve growth and progress.
"Now, it is only a matter of identifying promising markets," he stated.
Related news: Kratom has high transaction value in global market: Minister Teten
Related news: Indonesia officially regulates kratom trade
"Kratom is indeed a unique commodity," he remarked at the exporter's office in Bekasi District, West Java, on Friday.
Santoso highlighted that the exported kratom is in the form of finished products rather than sheets of leaves, aligning with Trade Minister's Regulation No. 21 of 2024 concerning the types and sizes of kratom eligible for export.
The minister then stated that Indonesian kratom farmers suffered losses and missed economic opportunities in the absence of a regulation prohibiting the export of this commodity in its raw form.
He pointed out that in the past, Indonesian farmers encountered a range of issues from exporting raw leaves, such as degradation in the quality of kratom leaves and unfavorable prices.
Moreover, importing countries tended to gain more benefits by exporting the kratom leaves they procured from Indonesia to third parties in the form of finished products.
He remarked that the government then responded to this issue by organizing limited meetings, which resulted in several regulations, including the aforementioned one.
"In essence, kratom leaves are eligible for export only in the form of crumbs or powder that measure less than 600 microns. Kratom measuring above that is considered a raw product," he elaborated.
He also drew attention to the government's natural resources' downstreaming policy, suggesting that Indonesians export kratom products of even higher value.
Furthermore, Santoso expressed optimism that the existing regulation would help farmers and industries achieve growth and progress.
"Now, it is only a matter of identifying promising markets," he stated.
Related news: Kratom has high transaction value in global market: Minister Teten
Related news: Indonesia officially regulates kratom trade
Translator: Maria C, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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