RRI.CO.ID, Banyumas – The Indonesian government continues to promote the expansion of export markets for national coconut sugar. This effort was marked by the shipment of 20 metric tons of coconut sugar from Banyumas, Central Java, to the United States, which is expected to strengthen the competitiveness of local products in the global market.

The export, valued at USD 46,000, was carried out by PT Integral Mulia Cipta (IMC) to Chicago, US. The shipment was supported by a Form B Certificate of Origin (SKA), which facilitates import duty procedures in the destination country.

Indonesian Minister of Trade Budi Santoso encouraged local businesses to leverage various trade facilities to gain benefits and grow their enterprises.

“We want to grow together and increase exports of regional flagship commodities—including those from Banyumas Regency—to boost coconut sugar exports to various countries,” said Minister Budi during the coconut sugar export launch in Banyumas on Thursday, June 25, 2026, as quoted from the ministry’s official website.

Minister Budi noted that businesses can expand their export markets through various trade facilitation measures, such as business-matching programs, the use of SKA, and support from Indonesia’s foreign trade representative networks. “PT IMC is an example of a business that has successfully expanded its market reach by optimizing trade facilitation,” he said.

PT IMC has been producing coconut sugar since 2012 and now exports its products to 56 countries across the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia. The company also partners with approximately 5,000 raw material suppliers, including farmers from Banyumas, Purbalingga, Kebumen, and Cilacap in Central Java.

Minister Budi also encouraged rural entrepreneurs to boost exports through the “Desa BISA Ekspor” program. “Exports don’t have to be large-scale; even medium and small-scale exports are possible,” he said.

PT IMC Director Mario Ngensowidjaja noted that demand for Indonesian coconut sugar continues to rise in global markets. “Coconut sugar is the jewel in the crown of Indonesia’s export products; it truly supports the national foreign exchange reserves,” he said.

Indonesia’s sugar export performance is also showing a positive trend. The export value of sugar products (HS 170290) grew by an average of 9.61 percent from 2021 to 2025, and from January to April 2026 it reached USD 42.67 million—a 45.97 percent increase compared with the same period the previous year. ***