Rising Plastic Prices Squeeze Street Vendors: Profits Down to Rp 500

JAKARTA - Plastic prices have risen in recent weeks, and this is now being felt by street vendors in the Jatinegara area of East Jakarta. This increase adds to operational costs amid sales that have not fully recovered. Several vendors admit that the price surge has been occurring since Ramadan and has not yet returned to normal. “It’s up; usually Rp 25,000, now Rp 30,000; what was Rp 10,000 is now around Rp 12,000. Since Eid, from fasting until now, it hasn’t normalised,” said Arka when met on Wednesday (1/4/2026). This rise directly impacts daily operational costs. Plastic, used for wrapping food, is an unavoidable necessity. With thin margins, the increase in supporting materials like plastic becomes a heavy burden. “Personally, it’s hard (to find alternatives to plastic) because plastic is like a staple item. We’re too dependent on plastic,” he said. He also cannot yet confirm whether he will raise selling prices because food prices are already listed and sensitive to changes. “It’s very tough because our sales are slow, not good. So if everything goes up, we suffer even more,” said Parti. However, unlike the option considered by Arka, Parti chooses not to raise selling prices to retain customers. “We can’t raise it, because with normal prices, buyers are already few. So we stick to the same,” she said. She admits she prefers taking thin profits rather than losing buyers.