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Indonesia to import rice from Thailand to fight shortages, rising prices
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A worker carries a bag of rice at the Cipinang Central Rice Market in East Jakarta on March 15, 2021. (JP/Yulianto Catur Nugroho/wen)
T
he National Food Agency (Bapanas) is planning to import 2 million tonnes of rice from Thailand to combat shortages and skyrocketing prices across the country, the agency’s chief secretary Sarwo Edhy said on Sunday.
Buyers have been complaining this year about the scarcity of rice at both traditional and modern markets and the accompanying higher prices.
The price of regular rice has climbed to between Rp 16,000 (US$1.02) and 17,000 per liter, up from the previous prevailing level of Rp 13,000, while premium varieties have reached Rp 23,000 per liter, leading some retailers to stop stocking them altogether.
“While [imports] were 2.8 million tonnes last year, this year [the plan] is 2 million tonnes,” Eddy said, as quoted by Antara. “But if domestic production is sufficient, that means imports will not happen.”
The agency has attributed the price increases to higher production costs, including elevated fertilizer prices, and harvest delays caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon in 2023. It has noted that the increases so far are not related to the upcoming Ramadan season, during which national rice consumption tends to increase.
“So far, there haven't been any [signs of rice hoarding]. Everything is proceeding as usual, so hopefully, prices will return to normal soon,” Eddy said.
