Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia is seeking to deepen patchouli oil processing and expand exports, aiming to capture more value from the commodity as global demand for essential oils grows.Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said in a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday that Indonesia’s essential oil exports showed increasingly positive prospects.In 2025, Indonesia’s essential oil exports under HS code 3301 reached US$348.7 million, up 34.4 percent from US$259.5 million in 2024, according to trade data.Indonesian patchouli oil exports reached US$173.4 million in 2025, up 22.7 percent from US$141.3 million a year earlier, the data showed.“This export growth shows that Indonesian essential oils are competitive and in demand globally,” the minister said, calling for stronger industrialization and greater domestic value added.Indonesia was the world’s fifth-largest essential oil exporter in 2025, after India, the US, France and Brazil. Global essential oil trade rose to US$6.49 billion from US$6.29 billion.The industry still faces challenges in developing derivative products with higher economic value, Agus said.Patchouli oil has significant development potential, given Indonesia’s strong production base and established export markets, the minister said.Indonesia ships patchouli oil to India, Singapore, France, Spain, the US, China, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the UK and Turkiye.Putu Juli Ardika, acting director general of agro-industry at the Industry Ministry, said downstream processing could generate higher-value products through refining and fractionation.Potential derivatives include high-grade patchouli oil, fragrances, antiseptics, medicated oils and aromatherapy products, Ardika said.Stronger downstream processing would expand patchouli oil’s use beyond raw materials to perfume, cosmetics, toiletries, pharmaceutical, pesticide and aromatherapy industries, Ardika said.