Cooking Oil Prices in Pekanbaru Return to Normal After Earlier Spike

The public in Pekanbaru is advised not to panic or worry about the availability of Minyakita cooking oil in the market. Although it was previously scarce and prices spiked, supply and prices have now stabilised.

Acting Head of Pekanbaru’s Food Security Agency (DKP), Adrizal, stated that his office has conducted monitoring and checks at several traditional markets. Generally, Minyakita supply has returned to normal, with traders selling at the Maximum Retail Price (HET) of Rp15,700 per litre.

“Minyakita prices in markets are now in line with HET. Supply is stable, so the public need not worry,” Adrizal said on Friday, 28 May.

Supply to Pekanbaru was previously disrupted, causing shortages. This prompted the Director of Food Availability at Bapanas, Indra Wijayanto, accompanied by the Food Task Force, to inspect Minyakita at traditional markets on Monday, 11 May. At Pasar Pagi Arengka and Pasar Dupa, prices were found at Rp20,000 per litre. Indra Wijayanto, along with Adrizal, other officials from Perum Bulog Riau, and provincial agencies, traced the source of the high-priced oil, which was found to come from traders also selling at Pasar Pagi Arengka.

The government’s food assistance program provides recipients with 20kg of rice and 4 litres of Minyakita over two months.

Minister of Trade Budi Santoso explained that the price surge was due to higher crude palm oil (CPO) prices and distribution costs. Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan cited distribution and transport issues as causing high Minyakita prices in Papua and Maluku.