Amran Points the Finger at the Person Behind Rising Staples Prices, Delivers Stern Warning

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — The head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), who is also the Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Amran Sulaiman, said the rise in prices of a number of essential goods ahead of Ramadan was more due to distribution problems than supply. He referred to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) showing price spikes occurring in the midstream supply chain. “Of course. It’s visible in BPS, prices up 30% in the middleman supply chain. Poor consumers,” Amran said at the Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday (4 March 2026). According to him, domestic production is actually abundant, especially for cooking oil. Therefore, the price surge is considered irrational. “Now production is abundant, prices rising sharply, cooking oil,” he said. The government found a significant price gap at the level of large distributors in one region. “One instance yesterday in Bandung. We immediately sent a night team there, and found a gap of IDR 2,000-3,000 per kilo. This is inhuman,” he said. He stressed that such practices must not recur ahead of National Religious Holidays (HBKN). “Indeed, people are seeking profit in the holy month of Ramadan. This must be resolved; not every year,” he asserted. Amran said the government would take firm action, including revoking licences if violations are found. “We want licences revoked and followed up,” he said, in relation to the discovery of problematic distributors. He also emphasised that producers must not raise prices for any reason. “If producers raise prices, especially importers who deal in live cattle will raise them, I will revoke their licences and they will not be allowed to import anymore,” Amran concluded. (dce)