Opportunities for the Development of The Oleochemical Industry of Coconut Products

Abstract

Coconut commodities that have been processed into copra or oil are less strategic to develop because they compete with palm oil and other vegetable oils such as soybean oil, sunflower nuts. As a result, the price of coconut oil, although the upward trend, but fluctuates greatly. To minimize the effects of price fluctuations, it is necessary to diversify utilization and processing. In addition to being edible oil, coconut oil can be further processed into oleochemical products. Important oleochemical products are fatty acids, fatty acid methyl esters, fatty acid alcohols, and glycerin. A possible problem is competition with Asia Pacific countries that are also developing the oleochemical industry. This paper aims to present technological introductions of some high economic value oleochemical products such as fatty acids, fatty acid methyl esters, fatty acid alcohols, and glycerin. Systematic writing approach in the form of a review based on literacy as a secondary data source. The oleochemical industry entering the industry 4.0 era is quite prospective to be developed in Indonesia to achieve the optimal economic value of coconuts in terms of availability of raw materials and technological innovation, technical excellence, employment, and domestic and foreign market opportunities.