Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) successfully exported 20 tons of candlenuts, valued at IDR 795 million, to the Middle East on January 13, 2024. The export, conducted by PT Mujnah Kemiri Lombok—a small and medium enterprise (SME) supported by Bank Indonesia—was officially released at the Bank Indonesia Representative Office in NTB. Bank Indonesia NTB Representative, Berry A. Harahap, highlighted that candlenuts are a flagship commodity of NTB, in high demand globally, especially in Saudi Arabia. However, consistent production and export have been challenged by farmers’ cultivation capacity and post-harvest processing. To address this, Bank Indonesia has intervened by providing intensive training to farmers and SMEs, focusing on modern processing methods to meet international standards, as traditional practices have been insufficient.

Bank Indonesia also facilitated a study visit to Sulawesi, where successful export practices were observed, and provided machines to reduce product breakage during processing. Berry noted that, apart from Saudi Arabia, Japan has also requested 3 tons of candlenuts for delivery in the first quarter of 2025. Packaging standards were also adjusted to meet export quality requirements, ensuring that the candlenuts maintain their quality during transport. Berry emphasized the importance of sustainable production to meet international demand, calling for collaboration between local governments, farmers, and exporters to expand cultivation. NTB’s vast productive land, particularly on Sumbawa Island, offers significant growth potential. PT Mujnah Kemiri Lombok’s owner, Mujnah, added that besides Saudi Arabia, there is strong demand from New Zealand, the UK, Japan, and Hong Kong, with Japan requesting up to 8 tons per week. To meet this growing demand, PT Mujnah plans to source raw candlenuts from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) in addition to the current supply from Lombok and Sumbawa.

Source:
https://bali.bisnis.com/read/20250113/537/1831318/ntb-ekspor-20-ton-kemiri-ke-saudi-arabia