MP Urges Government to Swiftly Address Surge in Plastic Prices

JAKARTA - A member of the House of Representatives’ Commission VII, Yoyok Riyo Sudibyo, has urged the government to take swift action to address the surge in plastic prices, which is increasingly burdening micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). “When plastic prices at the market level double, the impact is not limited to packaging material traders, but extends to thousands of micro-business actors, home industries, and the creative economy sector that rely on packaging as an inseparable part of their product value,” Yoyok stated in a written release on Tuesday (14/4/2026). The NasDem Party politician emphasised that the government cannot remain silent and treat the plastic price increase as a routine matter, as its effects will spread to various sectors. According to him, current policies are deemed insufficient to mitigate the economic pressures felt by the public. Therefore, Yoyok pressed the government to take concrete steps to prevent the economic burden on the people from growing heavier. “In my view, the government cannot settle for merely keeping fuel prices from rising. The government must find effective solutions to address the current economic pressures faced by the people,” Yoyok said. Yoyok reminded that plastic remains an essential component that is difficult to dispense with for MSME actors. Without government intervention, business operators will face difficult choices between raising product prices or bearing the increased production costs. “Do not let the MSME sector, which serves as the engine of the national economy, continue to be eroded, while the government is busy taxing its people,” Yoyok stated. For information, plastic prices in Indonesia are currently experiencing a significant increase, ranging from 30% to 100% in several regions. Retail prices in markets are recorded at between Rp 28,000 and Rp 49,000 per kilogram for certain types. The increase is triggered by disruptions in the supply of raw materials such as naphtha due to conflicts in the Middle East. Indonesia, which still imports around 60% of its plastic raw materials, mainly from the Middle East, China, and South Korea, is directly affected by the global oil price surge and high logistics costs.