Indonesia Faces International Pressure Over Palm Oil Export Ban

Indonesia is coming under growing international pressure over its ban on palm oil exports amid soaring food prices worldwide. <br />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. <br />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. <br />Analysts say it is likely that governments are making vocal representations to Jakarta behind the scenes.