Amran Orders This Figure's Business to Close: I Will Take Responsibility

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Amran Sulaiman has revealed the cause of the rise in chicken meat prices in the market. He said the price surge was triggered by the actions of intermediaries or middlemen who raised prices excessively at the distribution level.

Amran stressed that the government will not tolerate parties manipulating prices above the guidelines.

“I’ve sorted out the chicken and eggs,” Amran said when he was seen at the Bulog Warehouse in Kelapa Gading, Jakarta, on Wednesday (4 March 2026).

He acknowledged that market prices did rise, but he said not by much. Nevertheless, the government will still act against those proven to raise prices in an unfair manner.

“Not much of an increase,” he said. “There is no tolerance. We told them earlier that the ones who increased prices turned out to be middlemen,” he added.

Amran explained that the price increases by intermediaries were indeed quite high. For beef, prices were raised by up to Rp23,000 per kilogram; for chicken, up by Rp8,000 per kg.

“Beef increased by Rp23,000 per kg. Chicken by Rp8,000 per kg,” he said.

He noted that the increases did not originate from producers, because producer-level prices had not actually risen.

“Those increasing the prices are the distributors—the middlemen. That is not right. Because the producers are not raising prices,” he said.

Therefore, the government will take firm action against companies found to violate the price reference (HAP) for chicken meat at Rp40,000 per kg. Amran even stressed that companies manipulating prices can be shut down directly.

“This will be acted on. We demand a seal to shut [the business]. I am taking responsibility,” Amran said.

He asserted that the government has the authority to shut down companies that prove to have violated price rules.

“Yes, it can be shut down—the company. There is a company. There is HAP; it must not be violated,” he said firmly.

Amran also believes that strict action against price manipulators will gain support from the public.

“I ask you, would you be angry if I shut them down? As journalists, would you be angry? Would you be happy if those who raise prices are shut down?” Amran asked.

According to data from the Public Goods Market Monitoring System (SP2KP) compiled from 503 regencies across Indonesia, the national average price of live chicken on Wednesday (4 March 2026) stood at Rp40,192 per kg, above the HAP of Rp40,000 per kg.