Recently, flag carrier, Garuda Indonesia participated in supporting superior products from the national plantation by transporting patchouli oil from Aceh, Indonesia to France.

The initial delivery of patchouli (nilam) oil was on Sunday (April 13, 2025) by transporting around 1 (one) ton of patchouli oil from Banda Aceh, Aceh, to Paris, France, which arrived the next day, on Monday (April 14, 2025).

The process was that the patchouli oil cargo was carried by Garuda Indonesia (GA 147), Banda Aceh (BTJ) - Jakarta (CGK). Then, it was connected by GA 088, Jakarta (CGK) - Amsterdam (AMS). From the Netherlands to France using land transportation, intra-Europe, the partner of Garuda Indonesia.

In the future, the patchouli oil from Banda Aceh will be transported once a week to Paris, France.

“The transportation of patchouli oil exports is a form of Garuda Indonesia’s commitment to providing accessibility to flight services in an effort to increase the competitiveness of national export products, especially national plantation commodities, to accelerate regional economic growth,” said Garuda Indonesia’s Commercial Director, Ade R. Susardi in his release in Jakarta (April 17, 2025).

With annual production reaching 159 tons per year and potential export shipments of 36 tons each year, the party is optimistic that Garuda Indonesia’s air transportation accessibility support for Aceh’s leading commodities can boost the competitiveness of Aceh’s export products on the global stage.

“Through an increasingly seamless shipping scheme and safe cargo packaging, we hope that Aceh’s patchouli oil commodity will further expand its global market share,” said Ade.

As a tropical country, Indonesia has the best raw materials to produce several products, one of which is patchouli oil that is used as a raw material for making derivative products like perfume, cosmetics to herbal.

Then, the featured products of patchouli plantation managed by local people is one of Indonesian’ featured exported products, especially Aceh.

“Aceh is known as one of the best patchouli producing regions in the world considering its superiority. We certainly hope that with the support of various parties, the upstream and downstream activities of patchouli oil can improve the local economy of the Acehnese people. Furthermore, in the future with various superior potentials from various regions in Indonesia, we hope that the commitment of support that we present, especially in providing flight service accessibility services, can increase the competitiveness of Indonesia’s national products as a leading exporting country in the global arena,” explained Ade.

The delivery of patchouli oil was held on Sunday (April 13, 2025) at the warehouse of PT. U Green Aromatics International, in Blang Bintan, Aceh Besar was attended by the Rector of Syiah Kuala University (USK) Prof. Marwan, together and Banda Aceh’s Mayor, Illiza Sa’audin Djamal.

There were also the General Manager of Garuda Indonesia Aceh branch - Nano Setiawan, the Head of Aceh Transportation Department - Teuku Faisal, Customs Representative - Safuadi, Head of Atsiri Research Center (ARC) USK - Syaifullah Muhammad, and Director of PT. U Green Aromatic International - Faisal Alfarisy.

Patchouli farmers and distillers from Aceh Besar, Tamiang, ILO Indonesia, PT. Global Mandiri USK, Patchouli players and mass media also attended in the event.

The Air Transportation Roles

“Bless to Allah, today we are exporting the patchouli oil to France directly using Garuda Indonesia airfreight,” said the Director of PT U Green Aromatics International, Faisal Alfarisy.

The export of patchouli oil was exported to Nat’Green, a France company. This export is different from the usual exports via Belawan port, North Sumatra. Due to the partnership with Garuda Indonesia, this is the first export using Garuda Indonesia via Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport (BTJ) , Aceh Besar.

“This marks a new chapter in the transportation of patchouli oil from Aceh. We have attempted to export patchouli oil to France 30 times, but this is our first export using air freight, with a total value of Rp 1.5 billion,” said Faisal.

He explained that, using airplane, the buyers in France can receive the patchouli oil within 2-3 days.

“We typically transported goods by sea, which took two months to reach international buyers,” he explained.

Faisal explained that the patchouli export is a business collaboration between USK and a French company, Nat’Green. Following this export, USK will routinely export patchouli oil every two months.

He mentioned that the process of achieving export status is challenging due to numerous requirements that must be fulfilled. One of these requirements is that USK must not only supply patchouli oil but also provide accurate data on the patchouli plantations in Aceh.

“An international agency audits the data. So, besides the patchouli oil, we should also provide data. This is a change of era where we should be ready for it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Garuda Indonesia’s Aceh Branch General Manager, Nano Setiawan, expressed gratitude and happiness as this marks the first time the airline exports patchouli oil to France.

Nano Setiawan explained, the fast coordination and full assistance also come from the Aceh Custom Office. The administration of required documents can be fully done swiftly.

This debut offers valuable lessons on managing goods and administration based on high standards.

“In the near future, we will improve the export of patchouli oil. We hope that the efforts of Garuda Indonesia and related stakeholders will boost Aceh’s economic growth,” Nano stated.