BPS: Price Increases for Bird's Eye Chilli and Red Chilli Spreading Widely

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has recorded price increases for bird’s eye chilli and red chilli across hundreds of regencies and cities during the third week of September 2026.

Ateng Hartono, the BPS Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics, stated that the price increase for bird’s eye chilli has continued to spread over the last four weeks. The number of regencies and cities experiencing price hikes for bird’s eye chilli has reached 265, representing approximately 73.61 per cent of the country.

“The increase has been step-like, rising steadily from the fourth week of last month through to the third week of this month, in terms of the number of regencies and cities. It has now reached 265 regencies and cities where bird’s eye chilli prices are increasing,” Ateng said in Jakarta on Monday.

In addition to the increasing number of affected areas, the price of bird’s eye chilli has also recorded a substantial rise. As of the third week of September, the price increase for bird’s eye chilli reached 29.85 per cent.

Currently, the price of bird’s eye chilli is far above the maximum retail price (HAP). BPS noted that the HAP for bird’s eye chilli is set at Rp57,000 per kilogram, whereas the current national average has reached Rp77,596 per kilogram.

He mentioned that several regencies and cities have recorded bird’s eye chilli prices far exceeding the HAP. These include North Halmahera, East Bolaang Mongondow, Bone Bolango, North Bolaang Mongondow, East Halmahera, and North Gorontalo, where prices range between Rp120,000 and Rp199,000 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, red chilli prices have also increased and spread to 248 regencies and cities, or 68.89 per cent of Indonesia’s regions, in the third week of September 2026.

“For red chilli, the number of regencies and cities has increased over the last four weeks. As of the third week, it stands at 248 regencies and cities,” said Ateng.

In terms of the magnitude of the increase, red chilli prices were recorded to have risen by 15.83 per cent. As of the third week of September, red chilli prices have reached and even slightly exceeded the upper limit of the reference price.

The national average price for red chilli is Rp56,231 per kilogram, while the HAP is set at Rp55,000 per kilogram.

Ateng stated that this condition requires attention because red chilli prices should ideally remain within the range between the lower and upper limits of the HAP.

BPS also noted that several regencies and cities are experiencing red chilli prices that are more than 50 per cent to over 100 per cent above the upper HAP limit.

Regions recording high red chilli prices include Tomohon City, Minahasa Regency, Bitung City, Talaud Islands, Southeast Minahasa, North Halmahera, East Halmahera, Sangihe Islands, North Bolaang Mongondow, South Halmahera, and the Siau Tagulandang Biaro (Sitaro) Islands.