Bandung Strives to Sustain Tofu and Tempeh Industry Amid Soaring Soybean Prices

Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan stated that the price of soybeans is currently above Rp 10,000 per kilogram and continues to show an upward trend. According to him, the situation is difficult for the regional government to intervene in because soybeans are an imported raw material. “The price of soybeans now cannot be helped. It is already above Rp 10,000 per kilogram, even approaching Rp 11,000. Because this is an imported good, we follow the market mechanism,” Farhan said in a written statement on Saturday, 13 June 2026. Although unable to suppress raw material prices, the Bandung administration emphasised it will focus on maintaining the sustainability of the tofu and tempeh industry, which has long been a pillar of the economy for micro-enterprise operators. Farhan said one of the steps being taken is encouraging tofu and tempeh artisans to increase production efficiency so they can survive the rising raw material costs. “We are appealing to tofu and tempeh artisans to be more efficient. The important thing is that production must not stop,” he said. In addition to promoting efficiency, the Bandung administration is seeking to ensure that the distribution and marketing access for tofu and tempeh products run smoothly in various areas of the city. This measure is considered important to keep the economic wheels turning while ensuring supply remains available to the public. On the consumer side, Farhan continued, the regional government is also striving to maintain purchasing power so that the price increase does not overly burden the community. According to him, the balance between selling prices and the public’s consumption capacity is an important factor in maintaining the market continuity of soybean-based products. “We are ensuring that consumers who regularly buy tofu and tempeh culinary products still have purchasing power. So even if the price goes up, it can still be bought,” he said. According to him, the tofu and tempeh industry has a strategic role because it not only meets the community’s food needs but also absorbs a large workforce. Therefore, production continuity must be maintained despite facing pressure from rising raw material prices. Farhan hopes that business operators remain optimistic and able to adapt to the ever-changing market dynamics. The government, he added, will continue to strive to keep the business ecosystem running. “The most important thing is that tofu and tempeh production must not stop,” he said.