Minister of Trade Ensures Imported Rice Does Not Enter Production Center

INDUSTRY.co.id - Indramayu - Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita stated that imported rice from Vietnam and Thailand that started to enter Indonesia will not be distributed to production centers or rice-producing areas.

"I review Bulog's warehouse to make sure that imported rice is really stored and not enter the rice-producing center," said Enggartiasto in Indramayu, West Java, Tuesday (27/2/2018).

Enggartiasto said that imported rice, which is expected to enter as much as 261,000 tonnes by the end of February 2018, will be used as government stock to implement Market Operation (OP) when the price of rice is still above the Highest Retail Price (HET).

On the occasion, Enggartiasto reviewed some Bulog warehouses, including Bulog Warehouse Divre DKI Jakarta and Banten, Tegal Girang Warehouse and Warehouse Singakerta, Divre Indramayu. In Gudang Singakerta Divre Indramayu, the remaining rice stock of 93 tons, of total capacity reaches 21,500 tons.

However, the void of rice stock in Gudang Singakerta Divre Indramayu will begin to fill again when entering harvest season. Indramayu and Cirebon are rice producing centers in the country.

Enggartiasto ensured that Bulog would absorb rice grain and rice in accordance with Presidential Instruction No. 5 of 2015. The amount of HPP for dry paddy harvest was Rp3,700 per kilogram at the farm level, and Rp3,750 per kilogram at the milling level.

As for dry milled grain, HPP is set at Rp4,600 per kilogram at milling level and Rp4,650 at Bulog warehouse.

"Bulog will absorb, I make sure Bulog absorbs, it has provisions and added flexibility 20 percent," said Enggartiasto.

Based on data from the Market Monitoring System of Basic Needs (SP2KP) of the Ministry of Commerce, the price of rice, especially the medium quality has increased slightly.

On Friday (23/2), the average national price of Rp11,084 per kilogram, and on Monday (26/2) to Rp11,085 per kilogram, or still above the specified HET of Rp9.450 per kilogram for the region Java, Lampung, South Sumatra, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and Sulawesi.

The price has decreased compared to the condition in early February 2018 which was recorded at Rp11,225 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, based on data from Cipinang Rice Market, recorded on Monday (26/2) the stock is at 30,045 tons, or up compared to the conditions in early February 2018 which amounted to 23,452 tons. (Ant)