In brief
As of 2025, Indonesia is the dominant world producer of kratom - accounting for an estimated 70-90 % of global supply. The centre of production is the province of West Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, supplemented by areas in Sumatra and, to a lesser extent, Java. Indonesia has been debating export regulation since 2019; specific ban deadlines have repeatedly been postponed.
Geography of production
Kalimantan
The Indonesian part of Borneo is geographically and climatically an ideal area for Mitragyna speciosa: a permanently humid tropical climate, lowlands along the Kapuas and Mahakam rivers, and deep alluvial soils. Traditionally the tree was part of the rural landscape around villages - a combination of semi-cultivated planting and harvesting from wild populations.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, organised export of kratom leaf has developed in West Kalimantan (the Kapuas Hulu, Sintang and Melawi districts). Collection and primary processing (drying, grinding) are carried out by small farmers who supply regional consolidation centres.
Sumatra
The second significant region is Sumatra, especially the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra. Production is more fragmented than in Borneo and relies more on traditional village stands. The commercial volume is an order of magnitude lower than in Borneo.
Java
Java contributes a smaller volume (on the order of a few percent of total Indonesian production), especially from semi-cultivated stands in the eastern part of the island. More on the natural range in the article The natural range of Mitragyna speciosa.
Economic importance for local farmers
Collection and primary processing of kratom leaf provide income for hundreds of thousands of families in West Kalimantan. Local analyses (Singh 2019, FAO 2021) estimate that:
- in some villages of Kapuas Hulu, 30-60 % of family income comes from kratom,
- an average farmer supplies on the order of tens to hundreds of kilograms of dried leaf per month,
- the regional export value is estimated at tens to low hundreds of millions of USD per year.
This economic dimension is the main political argument against a rapid ban - alternative agricultural crops (rubber, palm oil) have lower yields in the area.
Planned export ban (debate 2019-2024)
In 2019 Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency (BNN) proposed placing kratom on the Category I narcotics list, which would effectively mean a ban on cultivation and export. The Ministry of Agriculture and the regional governments of Kalimantan opposed this proposal, citing the economic impact.
The deadline for the planned ban has repeatedly been postponed - most recently by 5 years from the originally planned effective date. As of 2025, the status of kratom in Indonesian law is still unresolved: kratom is not classified as a narcotic, but the Ministry of Health is preparing separate regulation for export.
Logistics and export regulation
Export of kratom from Indonesia takes place from the ports of Pontianak (Kalimantan), Belawan (North Sumatra) and Jakarta. For foreign importers (including entities in the Czech Republic) the following documents are key:
- an Indonesian export licence issued by the Ministry of Trade,
- a phytosanitary certificate from the Indonesian quarantine agency,
- a certificate of origin (Form A or Form D),
- a certificate of analysis (COA) of a batch sample.
These requirements are general customs documents and do not in themselves resolve compliance with the destination country's regulation.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Indonesia dominate production?
Three reasons: a still-free legal regime, the ideal climate of Borneo and the economic dependence of hundreds of thousands of families in Kalimantan.
Is Indonesia planning an export ban?
The debate has been going on since 2019, but the deadline has repeatedly been postponed. As of 2025, export remains legal upon fulfilment of the standard export documents.
What is Borneo's share of total production?
Estimates vary by source, but Borneo (especially West Kalimantan) makes up the majority of Indonesian production - an estimated 70-85 %.
Is there a certification system for Indonesian kratom?
A national certification has not yet been introduced. Foreign importers work with private laboratory protocols and their own supplier audits.
References
- Singh D. et al. (2019). Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) use in Malaysia and Thailand. Drug and Alcohol Review, 38(1), 81-88.
- FAO (2021). Non-Wood Forest Products in Southeast Asia: Country Reports - Indonesia. Food and Agriculture Organization.
- Cinosi E. et al. (2015). Following "the Roots" of Kratom. BioMed Research International, 2015, 968786.
