High Plastic Prices Force Peyek and Bakso Vendors to Raise Prices

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Several food vendors in Jakarta have been forced to raise the prices of their products due to the surge in plastic prices. The reason is that since the beginning of Ramadan 2026, plastic prices in traditional markets have been rising daily. The prices of several types of plastic have already doubled, making the profits of small and medium enterprises (UMKM) increasingly thin. A peyek vendor in Koja, North Jakarta, Rajianto (65), said the price of Wayang-brand plastic, the staple for wrapping peyek, has now skyrocketed sharply. “Wayang Cap plastic is Rp 26,500 now, usually only Rp 13,000 - 14,000 per pack,” he said when interviewed by Kompas.com at the location on Monday (6/4/2026). Rajianto said that amid the high plastic prices, other raw materials have also risen. From flour, oil, peanuts, and so on, although the increases are not as significant as plastic. As a result of these rises, he has no choice but to raise the price of his rempeyek. Because if he doesn’t raise the price, the profit obtained is very thin. Previously, before the plastic price rose, he still sold rempeyek in packages for Rp 5,000. But now, the cheapest rempeyek price is Rp 10,000. This price increase means his rempeyek is now rarely bought, even though the contents are much more than the Rp 5,000 package before. “It’s also detrimental, usually people could buy for Rp 5,000, now they have to buy for Rp 10,000 so people rarely buy,” said Rajianto. Previously, he could earn Rp 200,000 per day, now only around Rp 100,000. Nevertheless, he remains patient and continues to offer his peyek to people he meets in the hope that someone will buy. “I hope all prices return to normal, stable, because it’s confusing too if we don’t use plastic, where to put the peyek? If on leaves, it would stick,” he said. A bakso vendor named Yusuf (40) in Bukit Duri, South Jakarta, also chose to raise the price of his goods. However, he doesn’t want to raise the price significantly like Rajianto did, because he’s afraid of losing customers.