Gorontalo continues to strengthen its position as a leading corn producer, successfully shipping 14,000 tons of corn from Anggrek Port to Jakarta and Padang on 16 March 2025. Governor Gusnar Ismail personally oversaw the shipment, which was transported via two vessels: Bahtera Damai carried 8,000 tons in bulk to Padang, while Tanto Sejahtera delivered 6,000 tons in containers to Jakarta.
By mid-March, Gorontalo had already exported 53,770 tons of corn, generating IDR 268 billion in transactions. Jakarta remains the largest market, demanding 34,905 tons, followed by Surabaya (9,565 tons), Padang (7,000 tons), and Banjarmasin (2,300 tons). Governor Gusnar reaffirmed that corn is Gorontalo’s key commodity and emphasized the need for local corn processing industries to enhance product value and create jobs. While challenges exist due to the province’s relatively small population of 1.2 million, the prospect of establishing processing industries depends on securing stable markets. Corn industry leaders share this optimism, with Suwandi of PT Gorontalo Pangan Sejahtera highlighting strong production and competitive prices at IDR 5,500 per kilogram. With ongoing harvests, Gorontalo’s corn output is expected to remain robust, reaching 500,000–600,000 tons annually.
