Harvested Area Shrinks, BPS Reports Rice Production Plunges to 4.92 Million Tonnes in May 2026

The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), through the Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics, Ateng Hartono, reported that the realised rice harvest area in May 2026 was recorded at 0.96 million hectares (ha), representing a 2.35 per cent decrease compared to May 2025, which stood at 0.98 million ha.

In relation to this, Ateng stated that rice production also recorded a decline of 3.43 per cent from May 2025, which was 5.09 million tonnes of Dry Milled Grain (GKG), falling to 4.92 million tonnes of GKG in May 2026.

“The total rice production was recorded at approximately 2.84 million tonnes, or a decrease of 3.43 per cent compared to May last year,” said Ateng during a press teleconference on Wednesday, 1 July 2026.

Furthermore, BPS also reported that the potential rice harvest area for the following three months, namely June-August 2026, is estimated to reach 2.88 million ha, or an increase of 1.38 per cent compared to the same period last year.

The potential rice production in the next three months is expected to reach 14.61 million tonnes of GKG (an increase of 1.18 per cent), while rice production is expected to reach 8.42 million tonnes, or an increase of 1.17 per cent.

Additionally, Ateng noted that the realised maize harvest area in May 2026 reached 0.21 million ha, an increase of 22.04 per cent compared to May 2025.

Consequently, the production of shelled maize with 14 per cent moisture content (JPK KA 14 per cent) in May 2026 was recorded at 1.18 million tonnes, up 19.79 per cent compared to May last year.

“Cumulatively, the production of JPK KA 14 per cent for the period of January-May 2026 reached 7.20 million tonnes, a slight increase of 2.80 per cent compared to the January-May 2025 period,” he added.