Browse Data and Analysis

Following a lengthy period with a trade surplus, the U.S. trade balance with Indonesia in agricultural products began to reverse in 2021.

Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy with a population of 282 million, presents significant opportunities for U.S. exporters despite regulatory challenges, declining middle-class purchasing power, and tariff preferences granted to our major competitors.

On May 8-9, 2025, FAS Jakarta and U.S. Embassy Dili led the first agricultural trade delegation of U.S. industry groups in Timor-Leste. The delegation met with senior government officials, importers, and private industry to explore opportunities for U.S. commodities.

On May 22, 2025, FAS Jakarta organized the Indonesia Agricultural Biotechnology Showcase highlighting to Government of Indonesia (GOI) officials, university students, and other stakeholders Indonesia’s advances in the field of agricultural biotechnology.

The 2024 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world during the 2024 calendar year.

On May 14, 2025, Indonesia raised export levies for most palm oil products, from 7.5 percent to 10 percent for crude products and up to 9.5 percent for refined products.

In 2025/26, Indonesia's coffee production is expected to grow by 5 percent, reaching 11.3 million bags on improved yields from favorable weather and increased inputs.

Upon request from Post, the Indonesian Quarantine Agency clarified in writing that the export timing and Prior Notice requirements take effect on June 4, 2025, via regulation 14/2024 and provided additional clarifications on the regulation.

For marketing year 2025/26, Indonesian sugarcane and plantation white sugar productions are forecast to further increase to 35.0 million metric tons (MMT) and 2.6 million metric tons (MMT) respectively.

With favorable weather and steady fertilization, palm oil production is anticipated to rise 3 percent reaching 47 million metric tons (MMT) for 2025/26.

Indonesia offers significant opportunities for U.S. food ingredient suppliers to supply raw materials for its 100-billion-dollar food processing industry.

Following an estimated decrease of Indonesian cotton consumption in 2024/25 of 1.795 million bales, cotton consumption in 2025/26 is forecast to remain on par at 1.8 million bales.