Riau Palm FFB Prices Rise for 28 October–3 November, but Schemes Differ

Pekanbaru — Riau's reference prices for oil-palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from nine-year-old palms rose for 28 October–3 November 2026. The plasma-partner rate reached IDR 3,785.87 per kilogram, up IDR 40.45 from the previous week; the independent-partner rate rose IDR 60.43 to IDR 3,739.83/kg. These are different smallholder schemes, not a single price paid to every Riau grower.

What the plasma decision covers

InfoSAWIT reported that the provincial pricing team's plasma decision, No. 40/TPH TBS-X/2026, followed a meeting on 27 October. Nine-year-old palms received the highest listed price at IDR 3,785.87/kg. Riau Pos quoted provincial plantation agency head Supriadi confirming a rise of IDR 40.45, or 1.08%, for that age group.

Riau Pos reported a 93.69% K index and an IDR 14.73/kg shell value in the formula. It also explained that when some mills have no sales, the pricing team may use its average or a KPBN reference under the rules it cited. Its IDR 15,130.75/kg KPBN CPO average should not be confused with the IDR 15,112.11/kg weighted average of plasma CPO sales for 19–25 October, which InfoSAWIT quoted from the pricing minutes. The figures have different bases; neither is itself a farmgate FFB price.

InfoSAWIT gave the weighted kernel average as IDR 12,828.81/kg, while Riau Pos cited a KPBN kernel average of IDR 12,875/kg. Distinguishing those inputs helps avoid suggesting that all CPO or kernel transactions took place at one quoted rate.

Independent partners have a separate rate

ANTARA Riau quoted provincial plantation official Defris Hatmaja saying the rate for independent partner smallholders with nine-year-old palms increased by IDR 60.43, or 1.64%, to IDR 3,739.83/kg. He linked the increase to higher CPO and palm-kernel prices. The scheme's rate is lower than the plasma reference despite sharing the same effective dates.

An ANTARA report on a local B50 discussion recorded the previous 21–27 October rates as IDR 3,679.40/kg for independent partners and IDR 3,745.42/kg for plasma partners of the same palm age. The discussion raised hopes that biodiesel demand could benefit Riau, but it did not isolate the mandate's effect on this particular weekly FFB price decision.

How to interpret the increase

InfoSAWIT said the plasma pricing decision refers to Indonesia's 2024 agriculture-ministry rule on purchases from partner smallholders and includes a shell-value component under provincial rules. Riau Pos also reported the regulatory basis used by the provincial team. Prices for other palm ages, other provinces or other purchasing arrangements need their own references.

Both Riau schemes rose this week, but these price notices do not establish how much of either increase was caused by Indonesia's B50 biodiesel mandate. CPO, kernel, pricing indices and actual sales all enter the reported calculation. Biodiesel demand provides market context, not proof of a direct one-policy explanation for the IDR 40.45 or IDR 60.43 changes.

Readers can follow provincial FFB prices by date and category, while keeping reference rates distinct from actual farm transactions. This decision expires after 3 November; subsequent prices require a new determination rather than an assumption that the current rates continue.