Phenomenon of Cooking Oil Buyers Gradually "Disappearing" as Prices Rise
Cooking oil prices, both premium packaged and bulk varieties, are still observed to be steadily rising. Amid this situation, traders report a decrease in buyers.
According to the Essential Goods Market Monitoring System (SP2KP) of the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag), the price of premium packaged cooking oil on Friday (8/5/2025) was recorded at Rp22,030 per litre. This figure is up 4.09% from the price on Friday (8/1/2025) which was Rp21,164 per litre. It has also surged 5.67% compared to a year ago, or Thursday (8/5/2024) which stood at Rp20,847 per litre.
Meanwhile, the price of bulk cooking oil on Friday (8/5/2025) was recorded at Rp19,541 per litre. This is up 9.12% from the price on Thursday (8/1/2025) which was still Rp17,908 per litre. And it is up 9.34% compared to a year ago, Thursday (8/5/2024), which was recorded at Rp17,871 per litre.
Meanwhile, from CNBC Indonesia’s observation at Pasar Senen, Central Jakarta today, Monday (11/5/2025), the price of premium packaged cooking oil in 2-litre sizes ranges from Rp40,000 to Rp45,000. For 1-litre sizes, it is priced at Rp23,000-Rp24,000.
Meanwhile, bulk cooking oil is priced at Rp23,000 per kg.
Traders reveal that the cooking oil prices that refuse to fall are partly caused by the still high price of plastic. As a result, both packaged and bulk cooking oil using plastic packaging are affected.
Roni, one of the traders at Pasar Senen, stated that premium cooking oil prices have remained high in recent times.
“Still high, hasn’t gone down, it’s been almost a month perhaps, holding at high prices,” said Roni when met by CNBC Indonesia, Monday (11/5/2025).
“It seems because the plastic price is still expensive, so it affects cooking oil prices, because this hasn’t gone down,” continued Roni.
Although still expensive, the supply of premium cooking oil is still plentiful. However, unfortunately, the number of buyers coming is decreasing.
“The supply is safe. But as time goes on, fewer people are buying, because maybe all prices are rising, what used to be under Rp20,000, now has touched Rp20,000, even above it,” explained Roni.
In line with Roni, Bagus, another trader, is also anxious because cooking oil prices have not yet fallen.
Although the supply is still safe, the public buying is decreasing, causing cooking oil sales to erode further.
“The supply for premium cooking oil is still safe, no shortages, but almost no one is buying, how can we sell if there are no buyers,” said Bagus.
Because of this, he only sells Sania brand cooking oil in 2-litre size priced at Rp43,000.
“So I only sell the Sania brand, this 2 litres Rp43,000. Actually there are other brands, but I don’t display them, the price is the same,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Minah, another trader, admitted that the still high cooking oil prices have reduced buyers. Even the bulk cooking oil in her shop is still high, namely Rp23,000 for 1 kg. Whereas initially it was Rp18,000 - Rp19,000 for 1 kg.
“Bulk cooking oil is still at Rp23,000 for 1 kg, because plastic prices are still high, so bulk cooking oil prices haven’t fallen either,” said Minah.
She added that many people are confused because now it’s hard to buy cheap cooking oil.
“Usually when packaged cooking oil is expensive, they switch to bulk cooking oil, but now even bulk cooking oil is expensive, buyers are getting more confused,” she said.
Here are the cooking oil prices at Pasar Senen today, Monday (11/5/2025):
Sunco 2 litres: Rp46,000
Tropical 2 litres: Rp45,000
Tropical 1 litre: Rp24,000
Sania 2 litres: Rp43,000
Bimoli 2 litres: Rp43,000
Kunci Mas 2 litres: Rp43,000
Fitri 800 ml: Rp20,000
Bulk cooking oil 1 kg: Rp23,000.