Indonesia, the world’s biggest producer, has a palm-oil crisis
Ukraine, the pandemic and local profiteers get the blame
IN MID-MARCH Izawati Dewi, a mother of one, began queuing at 4am at her local shop to buy cooking oil. By the time it opened, the line snaked 2km through her town in central Java. She was lucky enough to secure a pack. The shortage was nationwide. In East Kalimantan, on Borneo, which produces nearly two-fifths of Indonesia’s palm oil, at least two homemakers have died this month while queuing.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Out of the frying pan”
Asia April 2nd 2022
- The Taliban are pushing females out of public life
- South Korean millennials battle to get hold of Pokémon snacks
- Russian tourists stranded in Asia are running out of cash
- China makes inroads in the Solomon Islands
- Indonesia, the world’s biggest producer, has a palm-oil crisis
- The invasion of Ukraine has turned Japan definitively against Russia
From the April 2nd 2022 edition
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