Plastic Prices Surge Due to Middle East Conflict, Traders Under Pressure

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The rise in global energy prices due to the conflict in the Middle East is beginning to spill over into various sectors, including the plastics industry, which is a crucial part of the consumer goods supply chain. The impact is not only felt at the global level but is also starting to appear in Indonesia’s domestic market. Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan stated that the surge in plastic prices has been complained about by traders in the last few days. This increase is said to be related to plastic raw materials derived from fossil fuels. According to him, the rise in plastic prices can no longer be called an ordinary increase but a sharp spike. “Yes, we will certainly discuss it specifically later, why it suddenly rose so high,” he said. At the trader level, the plastic price increase is immediately felt. One vegetable trader at Pasar Minggu, Gemi, complained about the plastic price hike reaching Rp 6,000 per pack. This price surge has significantly increased operational costs. Previously around Rp 60,000 per package, now Gemi’s shopping costs can reach Rp 100,000 per package. “Now plastic is much more expensive, this time the increase is far. People selling also complain if plastic is expensive like that,” she said. The plastic price increase is also felt by large companies. President Director of Perum Bulog Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani said his company has coordinated with plastic producers to mitigate the impact on food prices. At the global level, the rise in plastic prices is inseparable from the oil price surge and distribution disruptions due to the Middle East conflict, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, which is a vital route for world energy and petrochemical trade. World oil prices have risen more than 40 percent since the conflict began at the end of February 2026, from around 67 US dollars per barrel (approximately Rp 1.14 million) to more than 98 US dollars per barrel (approximately Rp 1.66 million) at its peak on 20 March 2026. As of today, the Brent crude oil benchmark price is at 101.9 US dollars per barrel. The Brent crude oil price had previously even touched above 115 US dollars per barrel.