Bapanas reaffirms food prices within HAP-HET limits despite IPH rise

Jakarta — The National Food Agency (Bapanas) reaffirmed that increases in the Price Development Index (IPH) across several regions do not automatically indicate that food prices have exceeded the reference price for sales (HAP) or maximum retail price (HET) ahead of Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah.

“An increase in IPH across several regions should not be interpreted as a surge in prices exceeding HAP or HET,” said Sarwo Edhy, Principal Secretary of the National Food Agency, in his statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He explained that IPH fundamentally illustrates the direction of price movement (rising or falling) compared to the previous period, rather than indicating that prices have exceeded government-set price limits.

“Consequently, an increase in the index can occur even though commodity prices remain below HAP or HET. Based on field monitoring, there are still a number of districts and cities recording food commodity prices below HAP/HET,” he said.

He further stated that IPH represents the direction of price movement over time, not indicating that food commodity prices are above HAP or HET.

“In practice, an increase in IPH can occur because prices that were previously low are undergoing adjustment towards a more reasonable price,” Sarwo added.

Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) regarding IPH at the district and city level in the first week of March 2026, the majority of regions actually still recorded prices below HAP/HET.

For bird’s eye chilli, for example, 164 districts and cities, or 31.90 per cent, recorded average prices above HAP. Meanwhile, 350 districts and cities, or approximately 68.10 per cent, remained below HAP.

For curly red chilli, only 20 districts and cities, or 3.89 per cent, were above HAP, whilst 494 districts and cities, or approximately 96.11 per cent, remained below HAP.

A similar situation also appeared for shallots, where 23 districts and cities, or 4.47 per cent, were above the benchmark. Meanwhile, 491 districts and cities, or approximately 95.53 per cent, remained below HAP.

For garlic, 47 districts and cities, or 9.14 per cent, were recorded above HAP, whilst 467 districts and cities, or approximately 90.86 per cent, remained below the benchmark.

For animal protein commodities, broiler chicken was recorded above HAP in 80 districts and cities, or 15.56 per cent. Meanwhile, 434 districts and cities, or approximately 84.44 per cent, remained below HAP.

For broiler chicken eggs, 48 districts and cities, or 9.33 per cent, were above the benchmark, whilst 466 districts and cities, or approximately 90.67 per cent, remained below HAP.

For beef commodity, only 38 districts and cities, or 7.39 per cent, recorded prices above HAP. Meanwhile, 476 districts and cities, or approximately 92.61 per cent, remained below HAP.

For other basic necessities, consumption sugar was recorded above HAP/HET in 60 districts and cities, or 11.67 per cent. Meanwhile, 454 districts and cities, or approximately 88.33 per cent, remained below the price benchmark.

For cooking oil, 48 districts and cities, or 9.34 per cent, were above HET, whilst 466 districts and cities, or approximately 90.66 per cent, remained below HET.

Deputy for Food Availability and Stabilisation at Bapanas I Gusti Ketut Astawa meanwhile reminded of the importance of vigilance from all regional governments in maintaining food price stability ahead of Eid al-Fitr, when public demand for food tends to increase.

“We urge Governors, Regents, and Mayors that this week is a crucial week because public demand tends to increase as Eid approaches,” said Ketut.

Ketut emphasised the importance of active involvement from regional governments by assigning relevant agencies to strengthen field monitoring together with the Food Violation Task Force, particularly in public markets and main distribution channels.

“Please monitor and assign Heads of Departments to go directly to the field during these weeks, as this is a critical period for potential food price fluctuations,” Ketut stressed.

Previously, the Head of the National Food Agency and Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman reaffirmed that the stability of national food supply and prices during the fasting month and Eid al-Fitr remains secure.

This condition is supported by strengthened distribution and increasingly rigorous oversight across various regions. Based on government monitoring, several strategic commodities have even begun to show more stable price trends, and some are even declining.