Rupiah Weakens, Breaching Rp 17,300; Transportation and Logistics Costs Could Rise Further

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The rupiah exchange rate continues to weaken against the US dollar due to global uncertainties and the escalation of war in the Middle East. What is the impact on the public? For context, Bank Indonesia (BI) recorded that the rupiah, at the level of 17,140 per US dollar on 21 April 2026, had weakened by 0.87 percent point-to-point compared to the end-of-March 2026 position. Even in today’s trading on Thursday (23/4/2026), the rupiah briefly breached the level of Rp 17,300 per US dollar. Although it eventually closed at Rp 17,286, weakening by 0.61 percent or 105 points from the previous day’s close. “The impact on the public is not yet a direct crisis today, but there is clearly pressure ahead,” he said to Kompas.com on Thursday (23/4/2026). The sectors most vulnerable to cost increases are transportation and logistics, agricultural and fishing services, as well as industries based on imported raw materials such as basic chemicals, plastics, rubber, pharmaceuticals, up to manufacturing. For the public, the impact is generally felt through rises in transportation costs, food prices, imported goods, medicines, household items, and small business costs whose raw materials still depend on imports. “So, the effect is not just the exchange rate in the money market, but the cost of living that rises slowly,” said Josua.