May Day! May Day! Plastic Prices Soaring, Traders Already Crying Out

Traders in traditional markets in Jakarta have begun limiting the use of plastic bags on Tuesday (14/4/2026). This measure is aimed at reducing fixed business costs amid rising plastic prices resulting from the war in the Middle East. (CNBC Indonesia/Tri Susilo) This situation undoubtedly impacts buyers of plastic products in the market, the majority of whom are food traders or canteen owners. The price increase directly causes their trading capital to rise rapidly. (CNBC Indonesia/Tri Susilo) One of them, Bagus (29), a Javanese noodle seller who frequently buys plastic food containers or thinwall for takeaway purchases, said the price rise has been felt for about two weeks, but it was not as severe as now. (CNBC Indonesia/Tri Susilo) He admitted that previously he usually bought thinwall for Rp20,000–25,000, but now it has risen to Rp40,000 when shopping at Pasar Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta. (CNBC Indonesia/Tri Susilo) In the end, he said that at his stall, takeaway purchases are charged an additional Rp2,000 per package. Meanwhile, for dine-in, the prices remain the same and unchanged. “Yes, we add Rp2,000 for wrapped items, if eating on site it’s still the same,” he concluded. (CNBC Indonesia/Tri Susilo) A similar situation was expressed by Risma (37), owner of a styrofoam container stall, which has also experienced a price increase. “This (styrofoam) has gone up too. This pack of 100 usually Rp30,000, now Rp40,000,” she said. (CNBC Indonesia/Tri Susilo) Besides using styrofoam containers, her food stall also frequently uses thinwall for wrapping meals or large orders. She only uses styrofoam for orders to be distributed on the road. (CNBC Indonesia/Tri Susilo) This situation certainly leaves Risma confused, as the rise in plastic purchase costs cannot be matched with an increase in selling prices. (CNBC Indonesia/Tri Susilo) CNBC Indonesia’s observation on site also found customers deliberately buying cheaper kresek plastic bags upon learning that the price of the medium white kresek plastic bags they usually buy has risen quite high. (CNBC Indonesia/Tri Susilo)