TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Govt to import 200,000 tonnes of sugar ahead of Ramadan
The National Food Agency (Bapanas) plans to import 200,000 tonnes of raw sugar to safeguard government stocks and prevent excessive price fluctuations ahead of Ramadan.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Secured supply: A worker carries a sack of sugar on his shoulder in this undated image. (Tempo/-)
T
he National Food Agency (Bapanas) plans to import 200,000 tonnes of raw sugar to safeguard domestic sugar stocks and prevent excessive price fluctuations ahead of Ramadan.
Bapanas head Arief Prasetyo Adi said the import would be conducted gradually to increase stock levels in the government food reserves (CPP).
“It is not because of a lack of production, [but] because we only have enough supply for the next four to five months. However, we cannot take risks for the CPP,” he was quoted as saying in a Bapanas press release on Thursday.
The measure was also aimed at preventing excessive price fluctuation ahead of the upcoming holiday season of Ramadan and Idul Fitri, Arief explained, pointing to a recent increase in sugar prices reported by Statistics Indonesia (BPS).
"Sugar prices reported by BPS are moving upward. The inflation contribution is at 1.4 percent, so we need to proceed with [acquiring] additional raw sugar for the CPP,” Arief explained.
Read also: Govt opens door to live cattle imports from Brazil
The BPS figures show sugar prices rising in 153 regencies and cities in the fifth week of January, up from 118 regencies and cities in the third week of January.
