Chilli Prices Surge to Rp 140,000 per Kilogram as Government Moves to Intervene
The government has pledged to coordinate urgently with businesses and relevant associations following the discovery that red cayenne chilli prices have reached Rp 140,000 per kilogram at Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta, with the aim of stabilising prices in the near term.
Perum Bulog president director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani previously conducted a snap inspection at Pasar Minggu on Friday (20 February). During the inspection, Rizal and his team checked stocks and prices of commodities including rice, the subsidised MinyaKita brand of cooking oil, and sugar.
"We will coordinate with chilli businesses and chilli associations so that prices can be brought down. Hopefully they will return to normal levels ahead of Lebaran," Rizal said when contacted in Jakarta, as quoted on Sunday, 22 February 2026.
During his visit, Rizal also checked prices of other strategic food commodities including shallots, garlic, chicken, beef, as well as curly red chillies and red cayenne chillies.
"Indeed, from the inspection results, there are several items that require our attention — the first being chillies. Chilli prices have risen somewhat due to the rainy season. Curly red chillies, which normally cost Rp 50,000 per kilogram, have risen to Rp 60,000 per kilogram," he said.
Rizal assessed the chilli price increase as still within reasonable bounds, as continuous rainfall over the past week had disrupted supply and made it difficult for distributors to prepare goods, pushing prices up by around Rp 10,000.
"Meanwhile, red cayenne chillies have also experienced an increase of around Rp 20,000," he added.
In response, Bulog will immediately coordinate with chilli traders and associations to press prices back to normal levels ahead of Lebaran.
Red cayenne chilli prices at Pasar Minggu have breached Rp 140,000 per kilogram over the past two days, up from a normal range of Rp 90,000 to Rp 100,000 per kilogram before Ramadan.
Sarjono, a trader at the market, said the spike had occurred since the beginning of the fasting month. Clean-picked red cayenne chillies without stems were selling at Rp 140,000, whereas previously the highest price had been around Rp 90,000.
He explained that the increase was driven by weather conditions. The rainy season has made farmers reluctant to harvest due to the risk of crop damage, reducing supply while market demand remains high.
Perum Bulog president director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani previously conducted a snap inspection at Pasar Minggu on Friday (20 February). During the inspection, Rizal and his team checked stocks and prices of commodities including rice, the subsidised MinyaKita brand of cooking oil, and sugar.
"We will coordinate with chilli businesses and chilli associations so that prices can be brought down. Hopefully they will return to normal levels ahead of Lebaran," Rizal said when contacted in Jakarta, as quoted on Sunday, 22 February 2026.
During his visit, Rizal also checked prices of other strategic food commodities including shallots, garlic, chicken, beef, as well as curly red chillies and red cayenne chillies.
"Indeed, from the inspection results, there are several items that require our attention — the first being chillies. Chilli prices have risen somewhat due to the rainy season. Curly red chillies, which normally cost Rp 50,000 per kilogram, have risen to Rp 60,000 per kilogram," he said.
Rizal assessed the chilli price increase as still within reasonable bounds, as continuous rainfall over the past week had disrupted supply and made it difficult for distributors to prepare goods, pushing prices up by around Rp 10,000.
"Meanwhile, red cayenne chillies have also experienced an increase of around Rp 20,000," he added.
In response, Bulog will immediately coordinate with chilli traders and associations to press prices back to normal levels ahead of Lebaran.
Red cayenne chilli prices at Pasar Minggu have breached Rp 140,000 per kilogram over the past two days, up from a normal range of Rp 90,000 to Rp 100,000 per kilogram before Ramadan.
Sarjono, a trader at the market, said the spike had occurred since the beginning of the fasting month. Clean-picked red cayenne chillies without stems were selling at Rp 140,000, whereas previously the highest price had been around Rp 90,000.
He explained that the increase was driven by weather conditions. The rainy season has made farmers reluctant to harvest due to the risk of crop damage, reducing supply while market demand remains high.