From Hormuz to Cimahi, War Makes Life Difficult for Green Bean Porridge Vendors

The high price of plastic at present due to US and Israeli attacks on Iran is affecting culinary business operators in Cimahi City, West Java. They have to dig deeper into their pockets to buy plastic, whose price continues to rise. Mursali (38), one of the Madurese green bean porridge vendors, recounted on Thursday (10/4/2026) that he intended to buy plastic at the New Upper Market in Cimahi City. However, he changed his mind because the price was quite expensive, while the money he brought was just enough. “Yes, plastic is expensive. Yesterday I wanted to shop at the market, but I went back without buying because the price had risen again, whereas the money I brought yesterday was just enough,” Mursali told Republika on Friday (10/4/2026). This increase in plastic prices is certainly very burdensome for culinary vendors like Mursali. Because his operational costs are sure to swell. Meanwhile, on one hand, he is not yet daring to raise the selling price of his traditional Madurese green bean porridge. “Yes, it’s burdensome if it keeps rising; I sell the porridge for Rp10,000 per portion. If plastic rises, then the costs also rise. Because this plastic is a necessity that can’t be abandoned for selling,” he said. According to Mursali, the high price of plastic is not comparable to the sales of his traditional Madurese green bean porridge, which are actually declining. “Usually I finish 3 kilograms a day, now at most 1 kilogram. It’s indeed quiet, plus the plastic price is rising,” he stated. The surge in plastic prices as a result of the US-Israel war with Iran is also hitting small vendors in Cimahi City. The price increase occurs because Indonesia still depends on imported plastic raw materials. All types of plastic are now expensive items. The increase began during Eid al-Fitr 2026 when the war in the Middle East heated up. “If the rise started from Eid, it keeps rising without going down for all types of plastic. Some rise by Rp5,000, some by Rp10,000, it varies depending on the type of plastic,” said Eri (56), one of the vendors at the New Upper Market in Cimahi City, to Republika on Thursday (9/4/2026). According to Eri, the high price of plastic directly impacts sales that have dropped drastically. Because, he said, not a few buyers reduce their purchases or even don’t buy plastic after learning that the price continues to rise. “Like just now there was someone who wanted to buy, but ended up not because the price is indeed continuously rising. If sales drop, maybe 30 percent,” said Eri.