SPKS Worried about DSI Margin Burdening Farmers, Emphasizes the Importance of Transparency

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Palm Oil Farmers Association (SPKS) Sabarudin is worried that the margin clause of PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia (DSI) will burden farmers who he said have borne various costs, reminding the importance of transparency from the beginning.

The Palm Oil Farmers Association (SPKS) highlighted the provisions of Article 3 paragraph (4) of Chapter III of Government Regulation Number 24 of 2026 concerning the Governance of the Export of Strategic Natural Resource Commodities which states that the Export SOEs in the context of the implementation of the export of strategic natural resource commodities (SDA) can determine the margin in the level of reasonableness in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations.

Speaking after a media interview, Sabarudin asked the government to ensure that the Export SOEs appointed in the implementation of the one-stop export of palm oil, namely Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia (DSI), did not take a margin that could eventually be imposed on palm oil farmers through a reduction in the price of fresh fruit bunches (FFB).

"If DSI takes a margin, we are worried that the cost will eventually be charged to farmers through a lower TBS price. That is what must be prevented from the start," said Sabarudin in his statement, as quoted on Friday (19/6).

According to SPKS, palm oil farmers support the government's efforts to improve export governance, improve upstream governance to partner palm oil farmers with companies and strengthen Indonesia's position in the trade of strategic commodities.

However, improving governance should not create new costs that ultimately reduce farmers' income.

SPKS reminded that past experience shows that various costs in the palm oil trade chain are often passed on to the farmer level. One example is the export levy, which for years has been part of the palm oil industry's cost structure and has also affected the prices received by farmers as an example of the decline in prices due to export levies reaching Rp500 to Rp1,000 per kilogram.

According to SPKS, the experience from the export levy policy managed by the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) is an important lesson that every additional cost in the trade chain has the potential to reduce the TBS price received by farmers.

"Farmers have long borne various costs in the palm oil trade chain. Do not let the new margin reduce the price received by farmers," Sabarudin reminded.

These concerns arise amid the condition of TBS prices that have not fully recovered. After the announcement of a one-door export by President Prabowo Subianto, TBS prices in various palm centers had dropped to Rp1,000 per kilogram even though the world crude palm oil (CPO) price was in an upward trend.

Apart from the margin issue, SPKS also emphasized the importance of strong governance and supervision of DSI as a one-stop export implementer.

According to SPKS, given that DSI will hold a strategic role in managing export transactions, export foreign exchange receipts, and payment settlement through the banking system, the principles of transparency and accountability must be the main foundation before the institution operates fully.

SPKS asked the government to require DSI to submit financial reports to the public periodically at least every quarter, undergo independent external audits whose results can be accessed by the public, and be under effective and independent supervision.

"Big authority must be followed by strong supervision. DSI transparency must be built from the beginning, not after the problem arises," Sabarudin reminded.

In addition, the SPKS also encourages the formation of a supervisory committee involving parliamentarians and has investigative authority to ensure that all processes run according to good governance principles.

According to SPKS, because DSI will control the flow of export receipts and the settlement of large financial transactions, the closure of financial information has the potential to create systemic risks that can affect market confidence and the stability of the national palm oil trade.

"The supervisory structure must be formed before the DSI operates fully so that public confidence is maintained," he explained.

Therefore, SPKS asked the government to provide an open explanation regarding the purpose, mechanism, and formula for calculating the margin as stipulated in Article 3 paragraph (4) of PP Number 24 of 2026. This transparency is important to ensure that the one-door export policy really benefits farmers and does not create new burdens in the national palm oil supply chain.

"Farmers support improvements in export governance, but farmers' welfare should not be sacrificed by new costs and margins," said Sabarudin.

Previously, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Investment Management Agency (BPI) Danantara Dony Oskaria denied the assumption that DSI would act as a broker for the export of strategic natural resources commodities, stressing that it would not take advantage of the difference in the selling price of strategic commodities such as coal, palm oil, and iron alloys (ferro alloys) which are exported to the international market.

"So it never occurred to us that we would suddenly become a 5-price broker, then we would add 5 more, we would sell 10, because it wouldn't sell. Now there is an international price reference, right," said Dony at the DPR RI Building, Jakarta, Monday (8/6).

He explained that the margin in question did not come from commodity trading activities or mark up prices to overseas buyers.

According to him, the margin is a compensation for the services provided by DSI in ensuring that the export process runs according to rules.

"When ensuring that it includes checking, later and so on. Ensuring that this is what is in service, and this also ensures for entrepreneurs. That the entrepreneur has legal standing, right, that what they export is guaranteed, both in terms of price and quantity," he said.

Therefore, continued Dony, the company's margin comes from the service, not from the difference in the selling price of commodities, ensuring that all DSI activities will be carried out transparently and accountable.