Indonesia is coming under growing international pressure over its ban on palm oil exports amid soaring food prices worldwide.
The ban by the world’s largest palm oil exporter has put pressure on edible oil prices at a time when supplies are already under strain due to poor harvests, the Ukraine war, and labour shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Joko Jokowi Widodo has justified the ban as a short-term measure after domestic prices of cooking oil, of which palm oil is a key ingredient, soared more than 50 per cent.
Analysts say it is likely that governments are making vocal representations to Jakarta behind the scenes.