Frustration of Plastic Traders Strangled by Skyrocketing Daily Prices

In the midst of the bustle at Kalibaru Market in Cilincing, North Jakarta, the faces of plastic traders appear deeply anxious. They have had to swallow a bitter pill as many customers fail to purchase plastic from their shops due to the continuously skyrocketing prices. According to one plastic trader named Ipang (22), the increases began before the month of Ramadan. “It’s truly frustrating because they’ve shot up sharply since before the fasting month,” Ipang stated when interviewed by Kompas.com at the location on Monday (6/4/2026). Ipang said that almost all types of plastic have seen ongoing price hikes up to the present, including branded ones like Tomat, Dayak, POLO, Tiger, and others. For instance, red Tiger-branded plastic bags have risen from Rp 60,000 to Rp 93,000 per bundle. Wayang-branded plastic bags have gone from Rp 18,000 to Rp 30,000 per bundle currently. Styrofoam has increased from Rp 26,000 to Rp 30,000. “Thinwall has only gone up by about Rp 1,000, and plastic cups by Rp 2,000,” Ipang explained. The trader admitted that he feels increasingly strangled by the daily price increases in plastic. On the other hand, he is frequently protested by customers, who deem his selling prices excessively high. However, Ipang noted that plastic traders are compelled to raise prices because their procurement costs are also expensive. Another plastic trader, Nando (48), also expressed exhaustion from constant customer complaints about the increasingly unreasonable plastic prices. “I’m tired of being protested by customers, who say why it keeps rising; explaining it is exhausting,” he said at the same location on Monday. The reason is that if prices are kept stable, the traders would have to absorb the losses, leaving no choice but to increase plastic prices. Nando admitted that his decision to raise prices has led many people to not buy from his shop. Nevertheless, he is not bothered and tells customers to shop elsewhere if they find his prices too expensive. “If you want to buy, go ahead; if not, look for another place—maybe there’s a kind-hearted shop willing to offer cheap prices to attract customers,” Nando added. Nando stated that the price increases are not only strangling buyers but also the traders themselves.