PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that Indonesia’s national climate conditions in September 2025 remained within a neutral ENSO phase, with an index of –0.54. Meanwhile, the Dipole Mode Index (IOD) showed a negative condition, indicating that sea surface temperatures across much of Indonesia’s waters were relatively warm—except in the western and northern parts of Aceh, where temperatures stayed near normal.
According to the October 2025 Climate Information Bulletin for Oil Palm Plantations, around 61.43% of Indonesia experienced moderate rainfall during September 2025, while 28% of the country saw high to very high rainfall. Only a small portion recorded low rainfall. In terms of rainfall characteristics, 79.64% of regions were classified as Above Normal (AN), 14.46% Normal (N), and 5.90% Below Normal (BN).
The highest daily extreme rainfall was recorded at Hujan Kapal, Badung Regency, Bali, reaching 390 mm on September 10, 2025. Conversely, the lowest humidity—42.25%—was recorded at Sultan Hasanuddin Meteorological Station, Maros, South Sulawesi, on September 3, 2025. The longest dry spell lasted 126 consecutive days at the Wera Station in Bima Regency, West Nusa Tenggara.
Also Read:
BMKG projects that between November 2025 and January 2026, most of Indonesia will experience moderate to high rainfall, with rainfall characteristics ranging from Normal to Above Normal. However, some areas are expected to see low rainfall (below 100 mm per month), which could affect crop growth—particularly in major palm oil-producing provinces such as Riau.
Additionally, Aceh, Riau, Jambi, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan are forecast to experience below-normal rainfall, raising concerns about reduced water availability for oil palm cultivation.
BMKG advises palm oil growers and plantation operators to prepare for potential drought by managing irrigation systems efficiently and avoiding land-clearing by burning, which could trigger forest and land fires. The public is also reminded not to discard cigarette butts carelessly in plantation or dry areas.
With proper mitigation and adaptive practices, Indonesia’s palm oil sector is expected to maintain productivity amid the increasingly unpredictable climate conditions. (P2)
