Rice Prices Remain Stubbornly High Despite Ample Supply, Traders Reveal
Rice prices at Pasar Rumput in South Jakarta remain at high levels even though supply is considered relatively safe. Based on CNBC Indonesia’s monitoring, traders say the price of rice, both medium and premium, has not increased recently. However, the price has also not come down after rising since the beginning of the year.
Yanto, a rice trader at Pasar Rumput, said the price of medium rice is currently sold at Rp14,500-Rp15,000 per kilogramme (kg), while premium rice is in the range of Rp15,000-Rp17,000 per kg.
“There is plenty of rice, various types. For medium, it’s Rp14,500-15,000 per kg. For premium, it’s Rp15,000-17,000 per kg. This is normal, the price has been stable at a high level for several months,” Yanto told CNBC Indonesia at the location on Tuesday (21/7/2026).
Although there were rumours that premium rice was becoming difficult to obtain, Yanto believes stock at the trader level is still available. According to him, the reduced supply is likely influenced by the fact that the harvest season has not yet arrived.
“It doesn’t seem to be scarce. If you look for it, it’s still there, it’s just that yesterday people from the main market (Pasar Induk Beras Cipinang/PIBC) said it was starting to get a bit difficult. But maybe that’s because it’s not harvest season. There’s no harvest, so that’s why the stock is a bit difficult,” he said.
Yanto said the price of rice has not increased again, but has been holding at a high level for a long time.
“The price hasn’t gone up, but it’s been stable at a high level, it just won’t come down,” he said.
Another rice trader, Jali, expressed a similar view. According to him, rice prices have been high since the beginning of 2026. Although they briefly fell in April-May, prices have since held at high levels until now.
“Rice has been expensive since the beginning of 2026. It fell briefly during April-May, after that it was stable and high like now. Premium is Rp15,000-Rp17,000 per litre, medium is Rp12,000-Rp14,000 per litre. For kilogrammes, just add Rp1,500 per litre. I sell by the litre,” said Jali.
Regarding supply, Jali said rice stocks in the market are still sufficient. However, shipments from the regions have started to decrease and some producers are reportedly starting to switch to producing fortified rice.
“No, there’s still plenty. Maybe it’s the ‘gadu’ planting season, that’s why shipments from the regions are reduced. But yesterday when looking for goods, they said that indeed producers are now switching to rice with vitamins (fortified),” he said.
Previously, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that the upward trend in rice prices continued into the third week of July 2026. BPS Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics Ateng Hartono said the price of medium and premium rice has continued to increase in recent months.
Based on data from the Ministry of Trade’s Market and Basic Needs Monitoring System (SP2KP), the national average price of medium rice in the third week of July reached Rp14,477 per kg, while premium rice reached Rp16,313 per kg. BPS also noted that the number of districts/cities experiencing rice price increases continues to grow, for both medium and premium rice.