'Mayhem' ensues as Indonesia bans edible oil exports amid shortage

Indonesia, the world’s biggest palm oil producer, will ban all exports of cooking oil and its raw materials amid a local shortage.

The shipment halt will start from April 28 and last until the government deems the shortage resolved, said President Joko Widodo in a Friday briefing. Most of the country’s cooking oil is made of palm oil products.

“I will continue to watch and evaluate the implementation of this policy so that the domestic supply of cooking oil is abundant and the price is affordable,” said Jokowi, as the president is known.

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