Amran and Wamendag Release 2,280 Tonnes of Indonesian Rice to Saudi Arabia

Indonesia has begun exporting premium Befood Nusantara rice to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to meet the consumption needs of Indonesian haj pilgrims for the 2026 hajj season, via state-owned Bulog. A total of 2,280 tonnes will be shipped in stages, using three vessels from international and domestic shipping companies. Bulog chief executive Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, together with Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman, Deputy Trade Minister Dyah Roro Esti and other officials, oversaw the dispatch at Bulog’s warehouse in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, part of the Jakarta-Banten regional office.

Rizal said the exported rice is of very high quality, with breakage rates below 5%, around 4%, and moisture content under 14%. “This is premium rice with breakage under 5 percent, even around 4%. The moisture level is also below 14 percent. Therefore, in our view, this is super-premium rice produced by Bulog. Historically Bulog’s premium rice had around 15 percent breakage,” he noted.

The shipments involve three vessels sourced from both international and domestic shipping lines. The Befood Nusantara rice being exported comes from domestic, freshly harvested paddy processed through modern Rice Milling Units (RMUs) of high standards. The product has undergone laboratory testing, meets international export standards, and is halal-certified.

The government also ensured that this export would not disrupt domestic rice availability. The Government Rice Reserves (CBP) are said to remain secure so that the needs of the public continue to be met.

This export for the consumption of Indonesian haj pilgrims is also the first of its kind conducted specifically for this purpose. The government views the move as demonstrating Indonesia’s ability to supply premium-quality rice to international markets.