Cable Prices Suddenly Surge, Glodok Traders Point to the Culprits
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Traders of electrical cables in the Glodok area, West Jakarta, have revealed the reasons behind the recent price increases for cables. The majority of traders attribute the rise to surging global copper prices. However, some traders also point to the increase in plastic prices as contributing to the cable price hikes.
Kurnia, one of the electrical installation cable traders, said that cable prices have been creeping up due to rising global copper prices.
“It’s said to be because of copper prices, perhaps due to the war in the Middle East,” said Kurnia when met at Glodok Jaya on Thursday afternoon (23/4/2026).
He revealed that the increases began in the last few days, specifically over the past week.
“There has been an increase in the last week, even though copper prices are said to have risen at the beginning of 2026,” he continued.
In agreement with Kurnia, Hans, another trader, also stated that cable price increases are due to rising copper prices. However, he suspects that the increase in plastic prices is also affecting cable prices.
“According to other traders, it’s because of copper, yes, because cables definitely contain copper, but the rise in plastic prices is also said to impact cable prices, because the PVC material has reportedly increased,” said Hans.
When asked if the cable price increases are also caused by the weakening rupiah exchange rate, he was unsure.
“It could be because our rupiah is weakening, now it’s said to be above Rp17,000 per dollar,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Mei Mei, another trader, said she has not yet raised her selling prices for cables in her shop. However, she has heard complaints from other traders who have already increased prices.
“If prices rise, here it’s still normal, still stable, but there is already information about increases in raw materials, such as copper and PVC materials,” said Mei Mei.
When asked if the rupiah’s weakening affects her sales, she replied that it has not yet had a significant impact.
“For the rupiah, yes, if you look at it, it’s already touching Rp17,000, but it hasn’t affected us much yet,” she explained.
She hopes that if there is an increase, there will be no further rises.
“Yes, if possible, no price increases, because life is getting harder, now I can only afford to eat, food prices haven’t risen, but the portions have gotten smaller. If prices keep rising, it’s better if the end of the world comes,” she said.
Here are the details of cable prices in Glodok on Thursday (23/4/2026):
NYM 2x1.5 cable, Rp21,000 per metre, previously Rp18,000 per metre.
NYM 2x2.5 cable, Rp28,000 per metre, previously Rp25,000 per metre.
NYM 3x2.5 cable, Rp31,000 per metre, previously Rp21,000 per metre.
NYA 1.5 mm cable, Rp12,800 per metre, previously Rp9,800 per metre.
LAN Belden UTP CAT 6 cable, Rp10,000 per metre, previously Rp7,000 per metre.