Coordinating Minister Zulhas: Minyakita is expensive in Papua-Maluku due to distribution issues
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) stated that the high price of the people’s branded cooking oil Minyakita in Papua and Maluku is due to distribution obstacles and transportation costs.
“(Minyakita) is expensive in Maluku and Papua. What does that mean? It means (there is an impact on prices from the aspect of) transportation,” said Zulhas during an inspection of food prices and supplies at Palmerah Market, Jakarta, on Wednesday.
According to him, Minyakita prices on Java and Sumatra are relatively in line with the highest retail price (HET), whereas several eastern regions of Indonesia still face price disparities.
Zulhas said that this situation can be monitored through the Market and Basic Needs Monitoring System (SP2KP) application owned by the Ministry of Trade in real time.
“As seen in SP2KP, it’s real time. You can open it, yes. Java, Sumatra near the ports are indeed blue, green, meaning they are in line with HET. But the expensive ones are in Maluku and Papua,” he stated.
SP2KP data from the Ministry of Trade as of 12 May 2026 shows that the price of Minyakita in Tanimbar Islands Regency, Maluku, reaches Rp23,000 per litre and in East Seram Regency Rp22,333 per litre.
Meanwhile, in Papua, Minyakita is recorded at Rp20,000 per litre in Waropen Regency, Rp19,000 per litre in Sarmi Regency, and Rp18,000 per litre in Jayapura Regency, or still above the HET of Rp15,700 per litre.
Based on observations at Palmerah Market, Minyakita is sold for Rp15,700 per litre or in line with the HET set by the government.
Zulhas mentioned that his side has asked Perum Bulog to accelerate the supply of Minyakita to several regions, including Papua and Maluku.
In addition, the government will involve the Ministry of Transportation as there is support for transportation subsidies to help suppress distribution costs.
“I have asked for this to be handled by Bulog, to immediately supply the regions including Papua and Maluku. Later also with the Ministry of Transportation because it provides transportation subsidies so that prices can be suppressed,” he explained.
Based on SP2KP data from the Ministry of Trade on 12 May 2026, the national average price of Minyakita is recorded at Rp15,865 per litre or down 0.31 percent compared to the previous day.
On the same occasion, Trade Minister Budi Santoso said that the national supply of Minyakita is in a safe condition and the main obstacle lies in distribution to certain regions.
“For the Papua, Maluku areas, it’s actually a distribution problem,” said Budi.
He explained that the government has set a minimum distribution obligation of 35 percent of domestic market obligation (DMO) cooking oil through Bulog and ID FOOD to strengthen distribution, especially to eastern Indonesia.
“Now it has also exceeded 50 percent distributed by the State-Owned Food Enterprise,” he said.
Budi stated that strengthening distribution through state-owned food enterprises is expected to help suppress Minyakita price disparities, especially in Papua and Maluku.