Jakarta Food Prices Update: Shallots and Bird's Eye Chillies Fall, Garlic Rises

Jakarta - The price of garlic at Pasar Rumput in South Jakarta has been observed rising, contrasting with several other horticultural commodities that are beginning to fall to normal levels. Based on monitoring by CNBC Indonesia, traders reported that the prices of red chillies, cayenne pepper, and shallots have started to ease, while garlic has experienced an increase recently.

Fajri, a vegetable trader at Pasar Rumput, said red bird’s eye chillies are currently selling for Rp55,000 per kilogramme (kg), while curly red chillies are Rp40,000 per kg. According to him, both commodities have returned to normal prices. “Red bird’s eye chillies today are Rp55,000 a kilo, they are falling. This is a normal price today,” Fajri told CNBC Indonesia on Tuesday (21/7/2026). He added that the price of curly red chillies has also dropped. “Curly red chillies are also falling, Rp40,000 per kg today,” he continued.

Meanwhile, shallots have also started to decline to around Rp40,000 per kg. However, a different situation is occurring with garlic, which is now selling for Rp45,000 per kg. “Shallots are the same, falling too, Rp40,000 per kg. All prices are normal. Only the price of garlic is rising, now Rp45,000 per kg, it is always stably high, but this has indeed risen recently. Usually garlic is Rp35,000-Rp40,000 per kg,” he said.

A similar sentiment was shared by another vegetable trader, Sumi. According to her, garlic is the only commodity experiencing a price increase amidst the decline in other horticultural commodity prices. “The price that is currently expensive is garlic, the others are falling. This kating garlic is Rp45,000 per kg, usually it is Rp40,000 per kg,” said Sumi. She stated that the price of shallots is now in the range of Rp40,000 per kg. Meanwhile, red bird’s eye chillies are selling for Rp50,000-Rp55,000 per kg, depending on the quality of the goods, while curly red chillies are priced at Rp45,000 per kg. “Others like shallots are actually starting to fall, now Rp40,000 per kg. Red bird’s eye chillies are also falling to Rp55,000 per kg for these ones (plumper and fresher), while those ones (more dominantly light green) are Rp50,000 per kg, they are also classified as red bird’s eye chillies,” she explained. “Curly red chillies today are Rp45,000 per kg,” she continued.

According to Sumi, the abundant supply during the harvest season is one of the reasons chilli and shallot prices are falling. Meanwhile, garlic, which still relies on imports, is potentially affected by supply constraints. “Maybe they are harvesting over there, and the goods are also of good quality. As for garlic, we import it, maybe there is a problem there,” said Sumi.

In line with market conditions, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) previously noted that garlic prices are still experiencing a national increase. Up to the third week of July 2026, the average price of garlic reached Rp42,561 per kg, up 4.94 per cent compared to June. On the other hand, the prices of shallots, red chillies, and bird’s eye chillies have started to ease, with price declines occurring in most regions of Indonesia.

BPS noted that shallot prices have begun to ease. The Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics at BPS, Ateng Hartono, said the national average price of shallots in the third week of July 2026 was in the range of Rp43,859 per kg, down 12.05 per cent compared to June 2026. A decline also occurred in chilli commodities. The national price of curly red chillies fell 11.65 per cent compared to June 2026 to an average of Rp48,526 per kg. A total of 76.67 per cent of Indonesian regions experienced a decline in the chilli price index, while the number of districts/cities experiencing an increase fell to 70 areas. The price of bird’s eye chillies was recorded as falling more sharply, by 15.71 per cent compared to June, to an average of Rp57,806 per kg. BPS noted that 68.61 per cent of Indonesian regions experienced a decline in the bird’s eye chilli price index, while the number of districts/cities experiencing an increase was reduced to 48 areas in the third week of July 2026.