The Impact of Asean-India Free Trade Agreement on Palm Oil Export Performance
A Comparative Study of Asean-3
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19488332 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Fadhlan Zuhdi (0000-0003-2683-2836, National Research, Development and Innovation Office), Sri Milawati Asshagab (0000-0001-6466-6272, Corvinus University of Budapest), Achmad Subchiandi Maulana (0000-0003-2007-6355, University of Timor), Jay Shankar Kumar (University of Antwerp), Resti Prastika Destiarni (0000-0002-5864-3370, Trunojoyo University), Erika Safira (Malikussaleh University), Eristya Puspitadewi Irwanto (0009-0004-6587-7484, National Research, Development and Innovation Office) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 393 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-21 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | JAS (Journal of ASEAN Studies) (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2338-1353 • E-ISSN: 2338-1361 |
| Publisher | Universitas Bina Nusantara (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.21512/jas.v13i2.12932 |
| OpenAlex | W7162254749 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 43 |
India is the world’s largest importer of palm oil, with a significant share sourced from ASEAN-3 countries—Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA), implemented in 2010, aimed to strengthen trade ties by reducing tariffs on palm oil. However, previous studies have produced mixed results regarding AIFTA’s effectiveness, highlighting the need for further analysis. This study examined the impact of AIFTA on the palm oil export performance of ASEAN-3 countries by evaluating their competitiveness in the Indian market using Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA), Export Product Dynamics (EPD), and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) gravity models. Utilizing secondary data from 2007 to 2021 sourced from UN Comtrade, the World Bank, and CEPII, the study assessed competitiveness, identified export trends, and explored trade creation and diversion effects. Findings from the RCA and EPD analyses indicate declining competitiveness for Indonesia and Malaysia, while Thailand shows notable improvement. Despite tariff concessions under AIFTA, the gravity model reveals no significant trade creation effect, suggesting that non-tariff factors—such as India’s domestic production policies, export duties, and geographic proximity—play a more influential role. The study concludes that AIFTA’s impact on the palm oil trade remains limited. To enhance export performance, ASEAN-3 countries must pursue product diversification, sustainability initiatives, and strategic trade reforms. These insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers aiming to optimize FTA outcomes and navigate evolving market dynamics
Comparative advantage · Gravity model of trade · Ordinary least squares · Palm oil · Product (mathematics) · Production (economics) · Tariff · Trade creation · Trade diversion · Global Trade and Competitiveness · Global trade and economics · Oil Palm Production and Sustainability
Fast Poisson estimation with high-dimensional fixed effects
Trade Liberalisation and “Revealed” Comparative Advantage 1
Agri-food competitiveness in the Andean Community
Endogenous transport costs and international trade
The Economic Impact of Deepening Trade Agreements
Palm Oil Downstream Strategy
Effects of Asean-India Free Trade Agreement on agricultural trade
The predictors of Indonesia’s palm oil export competitiveness
Readiness of the European trading countries toward carbon border adjustment mechanism
| Highly cited | No |
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