Amidst Indonesia's growing non-oil and gas exports, there's one commodity that may not have received much attention, but it holds significant potential—dried leaf exports. These aren't just leaves that fall from trees, but rather leaves that are harvested, naturally dried, and packaged as raw materials for the herbal, cosmetic, health, and decorative industries.
One entrepreneur who has proven that dried leaf exports can be a promising business is Lukman, owner of PT Charcoal Babelindo. Through his skilled hands, this company has not only exported charcoal, as it did when it was founded, but is now also successfully exporting dried leaves to various parts of the world. Lukman's story begins in Bangka Belitung, a region better known for its tin mines and natural resources. Initially, he exported coconut shell charcoal. One European buyer specifically inquired about the availability of dried leaves for herbal needs. Currently, dried leaves from PT Charcoal Babelindo are exported to various countries such as Germany, France, Spain, Australia, South Korea, and the United States. These countries have highly developed herbal, cosmetic, and wellness industries, resulting in high demand for dried leaves as raw materials.
The types of leaves exported are diverse. These include teak leaves, betel leaves, moringa leaves, marigold leaves, and soursop leaves. Each has its own uses, ranging from health supplements to natural packaging materials to decorative elements for organic products. Although it seemed promising, Lukman's journey in the dried leaf export business was not smooth. According to Lukman, the foreign market is very sensitive to quality and cleanliness. Leaves must be free from mold, insects, or excessive moisture. The drying process must also comply with international sanitation standards. Therefore, he invested in a natural drying system and vacuum packaging to maintain leaf quality. Lukman also actively participates in international trade shows and B2B marketplaces such as Alibaba and Tradekey. His success in exporting dried leaves is due to three main factors, such as product quality, legality and permits, and global networking and communication.
