Bapanas Asks Food Task Force to Investigate MinyaKita Sales Above Price Ceiling in Depok

Jakarta (ANTARA) — The National Food Agency (Bapanas) has asked the Metropolitan Police’s Food Task Force (Satgas Pangan Polda Metro Jaya) to conduct a further investigation into the subsidised cooking oil brand MinyaKita, which is still being sold above the maximum retail price (HET) in the Depok area of West Java.

Bapanas Principal Secretary Sarwo Edhy said in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday (22 February) that his office had carried out an unannounced inspection at Pasar Agung Depok as part of efforts to maintain stable food supplies and prices during the period from Ramadan through to Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah/2026.

He said the inspection revealed that a number of traders were still selling cooking oil at Rp17,500 to Rp18,000 per litre, despite the HET stipulating that MinyaKita should be sold at Rp15,700 per litre.

“This is something we need to rectify immediately because MinyaKita is the government’s cooking oil. The price should be in line with the government price. There is no reason for it to be above the maximum retail price,” Sarwo said.

He confirmed that the Food Task Force would trace the distribution chain to determine the source of the subsidised cooking oil being sold above the price ceiling.

“Our colleagues from the Metropolitan Police’s Food Task Force will trace where the cooking oil came from. We must trace it upstream, from the distributor, from which factory,” he said.

Sarwo stressed that if MinyaKita is sourced from Bulog (the national logistics agency), the retail price must be Rp15,700 per litre. With Bulog’s distribution price at Rp14,500 and direct delivery to retailers, traders still obtain a reasonable profit margin without additional transport costs.

Sarwo also expressed hope that the Depok City Trade Office would map out traditional markets so that all markets can sell MinyaKita at the HET of Rp15,700 per litre.

In contrast to cooking oil, Sarwo explained that monitoring showed prices for other strategic food commodities remained under control. Medium-grade rice was priced at Rp13,500 per kilogramme and premium rice at Rp14,900 per kilogramme.

“Still in line with the HET set by the government,” he added.

Sugar prices were also recorded as relatively stable at around Rp17,500–Rp18,000 per kilogramme. Chicken prices were likewise deemed to be under control.

“The chicken was priced at Rp48,000, but that was for 1.3 kilogrammes. So please, when asking about chicken prices, always ask how many kilogrammes. Sometimes the price quoted is Rp70,000, but that turns out to be per bird weighing 2.1 kilogrammes,” he explained.

He cited complaints of chicken priced at Rp60,000–Rp70,000 per kilogramme which, upon investigation, turned out to be the price per bird weighing more than two kilogrammes, meaning the per-kilogramme price was still below the reference price (HAP) of Rp40,000.

Beef prices at the market were also in line with the HAP of Rp140,000 per kilogramme and of good quality. Meanwhile, red bird’s eye chilli prices remained high at around Rp100,000–Rp120,000 per kilogramme owing to weather conditions and the rainy season affecting harvest times.

The government hopes that bird’s eye chilli prices will fall towards the Rp58,000–Rp60,000 per kilogramme range as major harvests are expected at several production centres such as Garut Regency.

Sarwo added that Bapanas has facilitated shipping costs for red bird’s eye chillies through the Food Distribution Facility (FDP) mechanism, which is expected to drive down prices at wholesale markets and subsequently at downstream markets.

“In accordance with the directive of the Head of the National Food Agency and concurrently Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman, all food prices must be below the HET and HAP,” Sarwo affirmed.

“The government will not tolerate practices that cause prices to exceed the stipulated limits and harm the public, especially during the Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr period,” he added.

Meanwhile, Depok City Trade Office Head Widyatin stated that her office would continue to monitor traditional markets used as government reference points and maintain coordination with Bulog regarding staple food prices.