13% Rice Production Surplus, Indonesia Opens Export Tap to Saudi Arabia and Papua New Guinea

The government states that Indonesia has achieved rice self-sufficiency in 2025, alongside a surge in production claimed to have increased by 13 percent compared to the previous year. With this achievement, the government is beginning to open the export tap to several countries, including Saudi Arabia and Papua New Guinea.

“The government states that Indonesia has now achieved the target of rice self-sufficiency. Now, the government is beginning to export rice to several countries, including Saudi Arabia and Papua New Guinea, in line with the increase in domestic production which is claimed to have a surplus,” said Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono during a press conference at the Bina Graha Building, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (19/3/2026).

“Then also in 2025, I think all media colleagues already know that we have achieved self-sufficiency, our surplus or production has risen 13% compared to 2024 and we no longer import rice,” he continued.

As an initial step, the government has released rice exports to Saudi Arabia amounting to 2,000 tonnes. This amount is part of the projected total export of around 20,000 tonnes to be sent to that country.

“But what has been carried out, please note, we have launched, we have released rice exports to Saudi Arabia of 2,000 tonnes,” he said.

This export is aimed at fulfilling the food needs of Indonesian Hajj and Umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. The government is also opening opportunities to expand the market by targeting rice needs for pilgrims from other countries performing worship in the Holy Land.

“What has been implemented or launched is 2,000 tonnes from the projection of around 20,000 tonnes that we will send to Saudi Arabia in order to meet the food needs for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims and Umrah pilgrims, and hopefully we can also capture the market for Hajj and Umrah needs not only for Indonesia but also for other pilgrims in Saudi Arabia,” he said.

In addition, Sudaryono said Papua New Guinea is one of the projected export destinations, following the rice needs in that region. Not only that, requests have also come from Malaysia, which is currently in the negotiation stage.

“In addition, we also project that this year, Mr Qodari, our rice production will be very abundant, insyaallah, and we have projected that we will export to several neighbouring countries that need it, there is Papua New Guinea, then there was also a request from Malaysia and so on, we will explore all and project towards exports,” he said.