• Low Crude Oil Prices Threaten Indonesia's Biodiesel Program

    Persistent weak crude oil prices jeopardize smoothness of Indonesia's biodiesel program as cheap oil - currently trading below USD $30 per barrel - reduces demand for biodiesel and makes the biodiesel industry less economic viable. This year the government of Indonesia plans to launch the B20 biodiesel program (one notch up from the existing B15 program), referring to the requirement to blend a mandatory 20 percent of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME, derived from palm oil) with 80 percent of diesel.

    Lanjut baca ›

  • Instant Noodles Market Indonesia: Difficult to Compete with Indomie

    Despite the slowing economy and weaker purchasing power in recent years, sales of instant noodles in Indonesia continue to rise. Although unhealthy, instant noodles are a highly popular meal in Indonesia due to its cheap price, tasty flavors, and easy-to-prepare nature. Instant noodle brands such as Indomie (produced by the Indofood Group) and Mie Sedaap (produced by the Wings Group) have become household favorites across the archipelago. Both are among the top five brands that are purchased most often by Indonesian households.

    Lanjut baca ›

  • Negative Investment List of Indonesia to Be Revised

    The Indonesian government announced it plans to allow 100 percent foreign ownership of cold storage businesses, sugar factories, rubber manufacturing companies, and the e-commerce business by revising Presidential Regulation No. 39/2014 on the Negative Investment List. The Negative Investment List (in Indonesian: Daftar Negatif Investasi) lists the sectors that are either fully or partially closed to foreign investment. Meanwhile, the government is studying whether other sectors can also be opened (or opened up wider) to foreign investors.

    Lanjut baca ›

  • Indonesia Stock Market Update: China GDP & Oil in Focus

    The spotlight is - as usual - on China today as the world's second-largest economy released various macroeconomic data and markets' reaction toward these data will determine where stocks are heading for today. Wall Street will not influence Asian markets because this US financial and investment community was closed for Martin Luther King Jr Day on Monday. Meanwhile, the crude oil price remains low around USD $29 per barrel.

    Lanjut baca ›