Shipment of 2,200 Tonnes of Bulog Rice for Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia at Risk of Cancellation

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf (Gus Irfan) stated that Perum Bulog’s plan to export rice to Saudi Arabia to meet the needs of Indonesian hajj pilgrims is at risk of failure. The export of thousands of tonnes of rice is threatened not to proceed due to the conflict in the Middle East. “Bulog shipped a quantity of 2,200 tonnes of rice at the beginning of Ramadan, but two days after the shipment, war broke out,” said Gus Irfan during a working meeting with Commission VIII of the DPR RI at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (8/4/2026). He mentioned that the shipment is likely to fail because of the US-Israel war with Iran, which has heated up the Gulf region. Nevertheless, consumption of ready-to-eat food for the pilgrims is already prepared. “Therefore, it is very likely that the rice will not be dispatched,” said Gus Irfan. “RTE, ready-to-eat food, the total requirement reaches 3,081,230 portions for 205,420 pilgrims and staff. Distribution is carried out in stages, with 1,659,390 portions having arrived in Mecca as of 30 March 2026, and targeted to be fully completed by 25 April 2026,” he continued. Gus Irfan said that 30 tonnes of rice is being endeavoured to continue for 1,600 hajj officials. The plan is to dispatch the rice shipment for hajj officials on 12 April 2026 via cargo. “The total rice requirement of 30 tonnes is intended for 1,600 officials. So, the rice that we might be able to send is only for the officials, with specifications of premium Pandan Wangi Cianjur rice, long grain, and a maximum breakage rate of 5 percent, as well as a price below the market or retail,” said Irfan. “Currently, the production process is underway at OKH Cianjur alongside the completion of export-import administration. The shipment is planned using air cargo with a target departure on 12 April,” he added.