Government Summons Businessmen to Request Maximum 30% Plastic Price Increase
Plastic prices in the market continue to soar due to the conflict in the Middle East. The government is preparing various measures to suppress plastic selling prices in the local market.
“This is being addressed; we are summoning several businessmen involved in plastic pellets,” said Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan, or Zulhas, when met by reporters after a visit to SMAN 1 Depok, Sleman, on Thursday (16/4/2026).
He stated that the government is striving to keep plastic prices from rising by up to 70%. According to Zulhas, the tolerance threshold for price increases should be 30%.
“So, how can we ensure the increase is not too high, around 30 percent, but in the market, some are reaching 60 to 70 percent. It should be around 30 percent,” he said.
Zulhas explained that plastic prices depend on oil imports. Therefore, rising oil prices directly correlate with plastic selling prices.
“Yes, we are pursuing this now because plastic depends on oil imports. It directly affects it. Therefore, an increase in oil prices will have a direct impact,” said Zulhas.
Furthermore, Zulhas assured that plastic prices do not affect rice selling prices or other necessities. However, currently, people must pay more for plastic bags when shopping.
“Yes, it’s the plastic that’s rising now, not the rice. Rice isn’t rising, what isn’t rising, petrol isn’t rising, everything isn’t rising,” he emphasised.
“But if there’s no plastic, how? Rice needs bags, right? The bags are the problem if there’s none. If it’s still available even with a price increase, that’s better. Sometimes what used to be Rp 500 is now Rp 2,000, which adds a lot to the cost of rice. We will discuss this,” he continued.
Zulhas mentioned that Indonesia actually has alternative packaging from organic materials. “It’s great if we have alternatives; we are actually rich in organics, right? Very rich. If that’s possible, replacing plastic with organic would be excellent,” he concluded.