After Rice Contributed to Inflation, Bulog Chief Visits Cipinang Market

Rice has once again become one of the commodities contributing to inflation in September 2026. The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) recorded that rice contributed 0.03% to inflation in September 2026.

Overall, monthly inflation in September 2026 was recorded at 0.30%. Meanwhile, year-to-date (ytd) inflation reached 2.17%, and year-on-year (yoy) inflation stood at 3.28%.

BPS Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics, Ateng Hartono, stated that the food, beverage, and tobacco group was one of the main contributors to September’s inflation. In addition to rice, commodities driving inflation included bird’s eye chillies, red chillies, broiler chicken, and chicken eggs.

“The expenditure group driving inflation in September was primarily food and tobacco, with inflation at 0.88% and an inflation contribution of 0.26%,” Ateng said during a press conference on Thursday (1/10/2026).

Amid rice’s return as an inflation contributor, the President Director of Perum Bulog, Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, stated that the rice price increase was not too significant. According to him, based on the government’s inflation evaluation, the inflation increase from rice was only 0.03%. This condition is occurring as Indonesia enters the lean season, a period when rice production from farmers’ harvests is declining.

“Regarding rice, as we have reported, we and all stakeholders, both the government and the private sector, are synergising as much as possible to maintain and guarantee the availability of rice. This includes ensuring price stability,” said Rizal when met at the Cipinology Rice Wholesale Market (PIBC), Jakarta, on Friday (2/10/2026).

“However, we all know that we are currently in the lean season. It is a non-harvest season, so a small increase is very possible,” he continued.

Nevertheless, Bulog stated that its rice stocks remain very large. Currently, stocks in Bulog warehouses have reached 4.8 million tonnes.

Rizal said that these stocks would be used to maintain supply and simultaneously suppress rice prices in the community. Bulog is even preparing an additional distribution of 1 million tonnes of SPHP rice until March 2027.

“Our current stock in the warehouse is 4.8 million tonnes; from that 4.8 million tonnes, an additional 1 million tonnes of SPHP rice will be distributed until March 2027,” he said.

In addition to SPHP, the government will also distribute 1 million tonnes of food assistance in the form of rice during October, November, and December 2026.

Rizal noted that previous food assistance distributions have already begun to impact rice prices. He stated that rice prices at the distributor level had even decreased over the past two weeks.

“In the last two weeks, there has been a decrease. So, perhaps yesterday’s evaluation was based on last month. For this month, thankfully, at the end of September and early October, prices have decreased. Hopefully, by next week, there will be a decrease in inflation from what was reported earlier,” said Rizal.

A distributor at the Cipinang Rice Wholesale Market mentioned that medium-grade rice prices dropped by approximately Rp500 per kilogram (kg), from Rp14,000 to Rp13,500 per kg. Meanwhile, premium rice prices dropped from Rp15,000 to Rp14,500 per kg.

“It is about Rp500 per kilo. Medium rice was yesterday Rp14,000, now it is Rp13,500 (per kg). Premium went from Rp15,000 down to Rp14,500. However, those prices are at the distributor level, not yet at the retailer level,” said the distributor.

Rizal emphasised that Bulog will continue to push rice prices towards the Maximum Retail Price (HET). Currently, the government has set the HET for medium rice at Rp12,500 per kg and premium rice at Rp14,900 per kg for Zone I, which includes Java, Lampung, South Sumatra, Bali, NTB, and Sulawesi.

“The business partners have assured us that prices are decreasing. Indeed, business partners want prices to keep rising. Our role is to protect consumers so they can afford it, so we must find ways to bring prices down further in accordance with the maximum retail price,” said Rizal.

Government Ensures Rice Will Not Pressure Inflation Again

The government also ensured that supervision of rice prices and distribution will continue to be tightened to prevent price increases from exerting pressure on inflation again.

The Secretary of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Ito Hediarto, stated that the contribution of rice to inflation previously recorded by BPS was actually relatively small.

“That 0.03% is very small,” said Ito when met on the same occasion.

Ito is optimistic that rice will not exert pressure on inflation again in October.

“We are sure. We are sure it will not happen again (rice contributing to inflation),” he said.

He emphasised that the government will take action against parties that raise rice prices above the HET without justifiable reasons.

“If there are individuals raising prices above the HET without a justifiable reason, we will process them,” he concluded.