In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, processed plantation commodities are still ogled and in demand by the world market, especially processed from coconut. According to data from the Yogyakarta D.I Class II Agricultural Quarantine Center, Yogyakarta’s leading coconut product in the form of coconut brown sugar during January to March 2020 was exported to several countries with an export volume of 311 tons and an export value of Rp. 19.27 billion.

Most of these exports are to meet the needs of the United States market and the rest are exported to Germany, England, Serbia, Malaysia, Australia, Hong Kong and Turkey.

“Indonesia, which is known as the largest coconut producing country in the world today, should be able to take advantage of this golden opportunity that is very wide open as a way to boost the flow of exports of Indonesian goods or products in the international market more efficiently,” said Kasdi Subagyono, Director General of Plantations in Jakarta, Sunday (19/4).

Now a golden opportunity is open for farmers and business actors of coconut or palm sugar, in the future it is expected to improve the quality of processed products so that they can have added value and are competitive.

Currently, continued Kasdi, he is also starting to work on opening a global trade window through the export of brown sugar to foreign countries because the need for sugar for diet and health is increasing.

Brown sugar, especially in the form of powder or granulated sugar, contains sugar or glucose which is lower in calories than other types of sugar. Ant sugar is also highly recommended for people with diabetes, so that blood sugar levels can be controlled.

Based on BPS data processed by the Directorate General. Plantation 2020 that Indonesia’s coconut export volume until February 2020 reached 333.93 thousand tons with an export value of USD 171.23 million. This export volume increased by 16.5% compared to the same period in 2019 which was only 286.72 thousand tons.

Brown sugar is an Indonesian trade commodity which is currently a potential export commodity. The growth of the world market share for brown sugar commodities, whether in the form of solid coins, powder / ant sugar or in the form of crystals, is believed to always increase from year to year.

“Although currently world trade is experiencing obstacles due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Directorate General. Plantations believe that the demand for food products that are consumed for health and diet, such as brown sugar, is consistently needed by the world market, it’s just a matter of finding the right strategy to keep market access open, of course with intensive coordination with government to government (g to g), government to business (g to b) and business to business (b to b) or through Indonesian trade representatives abroad,” he added.