Australian Cattle Prices Surge, Beef Prices in Jabodetabek Could Rise

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The price of live cattle from Australia, both male and female, has experienced a quite significant increase compared to previous years. Director of Livestock Product Downstreaming at the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan), Makmun, stated that this rise in the price of imported cattle needs to be monitored. “This is also a warning for all of us. The price has risen because the cattle prices in Australia have already gone up, Sir,” said Makmun during the virtual Inflation Coordination Meeting on Monday (20/4/2026). Makmun explained that the price of male feeder cattle has reached 4.56 US dollars per kilogram. His side calculated that, including travel insurance up to quarantine measures in Indonesia, the price of female feeder cattle from Australia reaches Rp77,177 per kilogram. Meanwhile, female feeder cattle is at Rp86,139 per kilogram. “Meanwhile, our HAP (Harga Acuan Penjualan) maximum is Rp58,000 per kilo of live weight,” Makmun stated. According to him, this situation makes beef price management appear complicated because the government has set a maximum selling price at the producer level. Makmun hopes that the National Food Agency (Bapanas) can discuss this issue so that domestic beef can be adjusted to the supplier’s price. He mentioned that the rise in the price of live beef cattle from Australia will impact beef prices in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek), which rely on imported cattle. “This will definitely experience a spike, Sir, from the purchasing portrait of the friends there,” Makmun said. Therefore, Makmun has asked Bapanas to revise the HAP for beef at the producer level to Rp58,000 per kilogram. The aim is so that the price increase in the Jabodetabek market due to the rise in Australia is not questioned by the Polri Food Task Force. Because the purchase price of live cattle is already considered high. On the other hand, Makmun also said that his side is endeavouring to ensure that beef entrepreneurs continue to import to meet stock availability. “If we pressure them, we worry they won’t buy, Sir, then we’ll be short on stock,” said Makmun. “Now, this is even more dangerous if then the stock runs out because they are pressured to sell at the current HAP price,” he added.