Gold Prices in Batam Fall Slightly, Shop Employees Say They Follow Global Prices
Gold prices in Batam experienced a slight decrease on Friday, May 15th. The price correction ranged from IDR 10,000 to IDR 20,000 per gram, following the weakening of global gold prices, which are being pressured by the strengthening of the US dollar.
At several gold shops in the area, price adjustments occur daily, following market movements. One of them is Banda Baru Mas in the Nagoya area, which recorded price changes for 24-karat gold.
A gold shop employee, Sinar Baru Anwar, 44, said that price changes like this are normal.
“If the dollar goes up, gold prices usually go down slightly. We just follow market prices,” he said on Friday, May 15th.
In addition, the gold shop Toko Mas Planet Gold, which is located in the Grand Batam Mall, on the 1st or 2nd floor, also said that prices are always updated following daily references.
The employee said that price fluctuations often occur, so customers generally understand market conditions.
“Buyers now understand that gold prices fluctuate. We just adjust from headquarters,” said Ayong, 33, one of the employees.
Meanwhile, the reference price for gold bars from PT Aneka Tambang Tbk (Antam) also experienced a correction. For 1 gram of gold, the price is in the range of IDR 2,819,000 with a buyback price of around IDR 2,636,000 per gram.
The strengthening of the US dollar is the main factor weakening gold prices. This makes gold more expensive for buyers outside the United States, so global demand decreases.
In addition, high interest rates in the US also make investors prefer interest-bearing assets such as bonds compared to gold, which does not provide returns.
In the global market, gold prices moved in the range of USD 4,650–4,680 per ounce and are still under slight pressure in the last few trading sessions.
Analysts assess that this decline is still short-term. Gold has the potential to strengthen again if global uncertainty occurs or if The Federal Reserve starts to lower interest rates. However, as long as the dollar remains strong, the pressure on gold is expected to not ease.
In Batam, 22-karat gold jewelry is still the main choice for the public, followed by small-sized gold bars, which are considered more affordable.
Buyers who come generally also ask for explanations regarding the gold content and price movements before making a transaction.
Today, March 30, 2026, gold prices in Batam have decreased at the beginning of the week and are now in the range of IDR 2.8 million per gram.
Based on monitoring at several outlets, the price of 24-karat gold is currently in the range of IDR 2.9 million to IDR 3.05 million per gram.
Gold prices in Batam have corrected in the last two days.
The Ministry of Trade said that the strengthening of the US dollar is one of the main factors that triggered the decline in the export price reference (HPE) and the reference price (HR) for gold commodities.
In Batam, 22-karat gold jewelry is still the main choice for the public, followed by small-sized gold bars, which are considered more affordable.
The world’s gold demand increased to 1,231 tons in Q1 2026, driven by Asian investment and AI. The price of Antam gold today is recorded at IDR 2,784,000 per gram.
From a geopolitical perspective, tensions in the Middle East are still considered the main catalyst, amid conflicts that have not fully subsided.
World gold prices jumped more than 1% to US$ 5,373 per troy ounce due to the escalation of the Middle East conflict. See the impact on Antam gold prices and the Rupiah.