Rice Medium Prices Rise Quietly, Bulog Ordered to Act Swiftly
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Medium rice prices have been reported to have risen. This was stated by Ateng Hartono from the BPS Distribution and Services Statistics Division during the 2026 Regional Inflation Control Coordination Meeting, broadcast on the Kemendagri YouTube channel on Monday (13/4/2026).
The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded a slight increase in medium rice prices, up 0.22% in the second week of April 2026 compared to March 2026. Currently, the average price of medium rice is Rp14,287 per kg.
Meanwhile, premium rice prices rose 0.17% in the second week of April compared to March 2026. The current average price is at Rp16,047 per kg.
In response, Komjen Pol Tomsi Tohir, Secretary General of the Interior Ministry, who chaired the meeting, asked Perum Bulog to step in and quickly respond to the movement in medium rice prices.
“I ask Bulog to focus on this BPS data per regency. I understand that Bulog colleagues have been working hard, but for these areas, the heads of Bulog should be called one by one immediately,” said Tomsi.
“Why? Stocks are abundant, stocks are abundant, yet prices are still rising. This shouldn’t happen. This is in Java, Cirebon Regency. It’s just a stone’s throw away,” he emphasised.
From the BPS data mentioned by Tomsi, medium rice prices in Cirebon in the second week of April 2026 rose 5.88% to Rp14,000 per kg, or 3.70% above the HET.
“I ask Ms Epi (Head of Institutional Relations Division of Perum Bulog Epi Sulandari) to look at this. And call them right after this. Then Banggai Laut, Boalemo. North Buton rose 20 (above HET). Intan Jaya rose 168% (above HET). I understand distribution there is difficult, but it must still be addressed. We can’t just stay silent. Gunung Mas, Gunung Mas, everything is rising, chillies are up, including rice,” he stressed.
“For this group of teens (percentage increases above HET), prices are rising (rice prices), it’s felt by the public, very noticeable. Especially if twenty, especially 168%, very felt. So I ask Bulog’s intervention to focus on these areas, the significant ones,” Tomsi emphasised.
Epi responded that she would immediately report to Bulog’s leadership for prompt follow-up.
“And every week, get the data from BPS first. And, before we discuss this issue (in the Inflation Control Meeting), inform the Bulog heads first so they know, okay, Ms. If they’re not reprimanded, well. If they’re aware, fine. If they’re not aware, how? They forget the prices are rising, calm as if nothing happened,” he snapped.
Regarding the rise in premium rice prices, which is not Bulog’s responsibility, he said, price increases still need attention. The data shows the locations are the same or not much different.
“Hopefully with abundant medium stocks, premium prices can follow suit and drop,” said Tomsi.
CBP Procurement Continues to Rise
Meanwhile, in the meeting, Epi Sulandari, Head of Institutional Relations Division of Perum Bulog, explained that the government’s rice stock currently stands at 4.647 million tons. This government rice reserve (CBP) has now been distributed to regions across Indonesia.
In addition to CBP, Bulog also has 21,582 tons of commercial rice. Thus, the total volume of rice held by Bulog is currently 4.668 million tons.
“The government rice reserve has been distributed throughout Indonesia. Including to Region III, regions where rice prices are still rising quite high. Also to DTPK areas (Remote, Border, Archipelagic Regions) mentioned earlier by the Deputy,” she said during the 2026 Regional Inflation Control Coordination Meeting, broadcast on the Kemendagri YouTube channel on Monday (13/4/2026).
Regarding procurement, she continued, for 2026 up to now, it has reached the equivalent of 1.8 million tons of rice for PSO (CBP) and 24,000 tons equivalent of commercial rice.
Thus, said Epi, Bulog’s total domestic procurement has reached 1.9 million tons equivalent of rice.
According to her, this figure is the highest compared to the last 6 years.