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Indonesia pins hope on Australian cows to fulfill surging demand during Ramadan
The demand for basic needs, especially food, usually increases sharply during the fasting month, which is expected to begin on April 24.
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A vendor cuts up meat in Senen Market in Central Jakarta on June 7, 2019. (Antara/Reno Esnir)
I
ndonesia has prepared its beef supply early from Australia to anticipate a spike in meat consumption during Idul Fitri when families across the archipelago celebrate the end of Ramadan.
A Statistics Indonesia (BPS) report on Monday showed that Indonesia’s live animal import value skyrocketed 231.72 percent month-to-month in February, despite the government's recent ban on such goods from China.
A BPS official who requested anonymity told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday imported cows from Australia contributed to the skyrocketing increase of live animal imports.
"The highest live animal imports are cows from Australia. It seems like it’s for Lebaran [Idul Fitri] needs," the official said.
The demand for basic needs, especially food, usually increases sharply during the fasting month, which is expected to begin on April 24. The demand will peak during the Idul Fitri holidays, which marks the end of Ramadan.
Separate data obtained by the Post revealed that Indonesia imported US$48.1 million worth of live animal in February, up 232.6 percent from $14.45 million in January, which mostly consisted of live cattle.
Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto explained during an online press conference on Wednesday that a recent ban on live animals only applied to China, adding that other products from China and live animals from other countries are still being shipped to Indonesia.
