Rice Prices in Cipinang Begin to Decline, Bulog Chief Responds

Rice prices at the Cipinang Wholesale Rice Market (PIBC) in East Jakarta have begun to decline over the past two weeks. The price drop affects both medium and premium rice, with a decrease ranging from Rp400 to Rp500 per kilogram.

The President Director of Perum Bulog, Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, stated that the price reduction is partly influenced by the simultaneous distribution of the government’s rice food assistance programme in the fourth quarter of 2026. From October to December 2026, the government will distribute 10 kilograms of rice per month to 33 million beneficiaries in the bottom 1-4 deciles.

For this specific distribution, the assistance for three months is being provided all at once, meaning each beneficiary receives 30 kg of rice. “In accordance with the directives of President Prabowo Subianto, the food assistance rice amounting to 1 million tonnes will be distributed during October, November, and December,” said Rizal when met at the Cipinang Wholesale Rice Market on Friday (2/10/2026).

Rizal noted that the additional supply through the food assistance programme has directly influenced market price movements. “With the food assistance starting from July, August, and September, and now adding October, November, and December, this has had an impact on lowering rice prices,” he added.

Bulog is utilising the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) to meet the requirements of this food assistance programme. Rizal mentioned that the CBP stock currently stored in Bulog warehouses has reached 4.8 million tonnes. “Currently, the government rice reserves stored in Bulog warehouses are recorded at 4.8 million tonnes. This stock is ready to be allocated to strengthen national food availability for several years to come,” he emphasised.

Traders at the Cipinang Wholesale Rice Market are also directly feeling the downward price trend. The Chairman of the Cipinang Wholesale Rice Market Traders Cooperative, Dedy, stated that rice prices arriving from various regions into the wholesale market have begun to decline over the last two weeks. “It is true, in the last two weeks there has been a price decrease of around Rp400-500 for both medium and premium rice. I experienced it myself; I received a shipment from the Majalengka region that was usually around Rp14,000, but recently it touched Rp13,600 per kg,” said Dedy.

At the distributor level, medium rice prices, which were previously around Rp14,000 per kg, have dropped to approximately Rp13,500 per kg. Meanwhile, premium rice, which previously reached Rp15,000 per kg, is now in the range of Rp14,500 per kg. These prices may vary depending on the type, brand, and region of origin.

Dedy assessed that the distribution of food assistance is exerting downward pressure on prices because the government rice is being distributed directly to the public. “There is the food assistance. There was a lump sum distribution where each beneficiary receives an additional 1 million tonnes, totaling 30 kg per beneficiary. That has a significant impact,” he noted.

In addition to the food assistance, supplies from several production centres have also begun entering the Cipinang Wholesale Rice Market. Supplying regions include Indramayu, Majalengka, Sragen, and Ngawi. The increase in supply from these harvesting areas has strengthened rice stocks in Jakarta and driven prices down in the wholesale market.

Another rice trader at PIBC, Anto, also noted a price decrease of about Rp500 per kg. However, he emphasised that this is the price at the distributor level and does not yet reflect retail prices. “The price dropped by approximately Rp500 per kg. Medium rice went from Rp14,000 to around Rp13,500, and premium went from Rp15,000 to Rp14,500. However, that is at the distributor level, not yet at the retail level,” Anto explained.