Indonesia Boosts High-Value Cocoa Processing as Opportunities Grow in Australia

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia expands cocoa downstream processing to increase the added value of its plantation products while expanding exports of processed cocoa products to international markets, including Australia. As reported on the official website of Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture on Monday, July 13, 2026, growing market opportunities in Australia are seen as an important momentum to accelerate the development of the country's cocoa industry from upstream to downstream.

The government is encouraging the processing of cocoa into higher value-added products, such as cocoa butter, instead of exporting it solely as a raw commodity. Indonesia's Minister of Agriculture, Andi Amran Sulaiman, said downstream processing is a key strategy to increase the economic value of plantation commodities while providing greater benefits to farmers.

"Downstream processing is the key to increasing the economic value of plantation commodities while delivering greater benefits to farmers. Indonesian cocoa should not be exported merely as a raw material but should be processed into high-value products capable of competing in premium global markets, including Australia," he said.

In line with that, Acting Director General of Plantations, Ali Jamil, said Australia is one of the most promising markets for Indonesia's processed cocoa products. According to him, the growth of Australia's food and beverage industry, along with the implementation of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA), has created greater opportunities for exports of Indonesia's downstream cocoa products.

"Indonesian cocoa butter has strong potential in the Australian market. However, export success depends not only on supply availability but also on the ability to meet food safety standards, product traceability requirements, and applicable biosecurity regulations," Ali Jamil conveyed in a statement on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

To expand into the Australian market, the Ministry of Agriculture continues to promote higher cocoa productivity and quality through the use of superior seedlings, plantation rejuvenation, the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and the strengthening of the domestic cocoa processing industry.

The government also urges industry players to comply with Australia's technical requirements, including food safety standards, biosecurity regulations, and export documentation requirements, to enhance the competitiveness of Indonesia's processed cocoa products in the global market.