Premium rice stocks in several modern retail outlets in Central\nJakarta have begun to dwindle. Based on observations at three major\nretailers\u2014Alfamart, Indomaret, and Hero\u2014the selection of available\npremium rice appears limited.<\/p>\n
At Alfamart, monitored shelves only provide SPHP rice, as premium\nrice stocks are no longer available. Meanwhile, Indomaret still offers\nseveral options, whereas at Hero, only Shirohana premium rice in 5kg\npackages priced at Rp175,000 remains. Hero staff noted that other\npremium rice stocks are depleted.<\/p>\n
The General Chair of the Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo),\nSolihin, admitted that the supply of premium rice entering modern retail\nis very minimal. According to him, the primary issue is not a lack of\npremium rice in the market, but rather that prices from producers and\ndistributors have risen above the Maximum Retail Price (HET) of Rp14,900\nper kg, making it impossible for retailers to absorb the stock.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is true that for premium rice in modern retail, which must adhere\nto the HET of Rp14,900 per kg, stocks are very minimal. This is because\nshipments from suppliers at prices matching the HET are very few.\nOutside of the modern market, stocks are very abundant,\u201d Solihin told\nCNBC Indonesia on Friday (11\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n
\u201cPremium rice is plentiful, but the supply that can be sold at the\nHET price is what is missing,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Solihin explained that modern retailers are required to sell premium\nrice at a maximum price of Rp14,900 per kg. While premium rice is widely\navailable in traditional markets and wholesalers, the prices there have\nexceeded the HET.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn modern retail, sales must follow the HET of Rp14,900 per kg. So\nthe question is, does premium rice exist? Yes, plenty, but not in modern\nretail because they are mandated to sell at the HET. If you want to buy\nin traditional markets or wholesalers, there is plenty, but the price is\nabove the HET,\u201d he clarified.<\/p>\n
He noted that this condition makes suppliers uninterested in\nsupplying premium rice to modern retail networks, as the purchase price\nfrom distributors is already higher than the government-permitted\nselling price.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one wants to enter the market. Because modern retailers must buy\nat a price higher than the HET,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
When asked if distributor prices have indeed risen above the HET,\nSolihin confirmed this. This situation prevents premium rice from being\nsold in modern retail despite its availability elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, because modern retail must sell at the HET, they cannot stock\nit. They can bring it in, but they cannot sell it,\u201d Solihin\nemphasised.<\/p>\n
Bulog Ready to Supply Premium Rice<\/p>\n
To address the supply shortage, Solihin stated that Perum Bulog will\nsoon release premium rice for distribution through modern retail.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod willing, Bulog will release premium rice in the near future,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
According to Solihin, this move follows instructions from the\ngovernment via the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs. He stated\nthat Bulog\u2019s premium rice supply to modern retail will be implemented as\nsoon as possible.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/premium-rice-scarcity-modern-retailers-speak-out-1789109886", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }