Skyrocketing Plastic Prices, NTB BPS Warns of Domino Effect on Inflation
The surge in plastic prices is beginning to pressure business actors and market traders in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). The increases across various types of plastic are feared to trigger a domino effect on inflation.
The ongoing rise in plastic prices affects a wide range of products, from carrier bags to food packaging. This situation is causing operational costs for traders to increase as well.
The Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) for NTB, Wahyudin, stated that the contribution of plastics to inflation is not as significant as that of food commodities like chillies or onions. However, the increases still exert pressure on the consumer price index.
“Plastics have a small share, not like food items. But there is still an impact on inflation; the current challenge is how small market traders can cope,” said Wahyudin on Wednesday (15/4/2026).
The unrelenting rise in plastic prices is also affecting the prices of several basic necessities (bapok). In the field, traders are starting to increase selling prices to maintain profit margins.
“This must be guarded against, so that other prices are not affected. We have to keep it in check. The TPID (Regional Inflation Control Team) colleagues must ensure it doesn’t spread to other prices. In fact, our stocks of basic necessities are plentiful and sufficient,” explained Wahyudin.
It is known that the surge in plastic prices is triggered by disruptions in raw material imports due to the war conflict between the United States (US) and Iran.
Complaints are coming from traders. Ovi, a herbal medicine trader in Mataram, admitted that the rise in plastic prices is giving her a headache because almost all types have surged.
“Oh dear, everything has gone up, now plastic prices are skyrocketing. It’s making us dizzy,” said Ovi, when interviewed by detikBali previously.
She mentioned that the increases affect various products, such as plastic bags, cups, thinwall, plastic bottles, styrofoam, and rubbish bags.
“The small plastic [bags] that used to cost Rp 7,500 per pack, now up to Rp 11,000 per pack—that’s the Kharisma brand. Plastic mica from Rp 200 to now Rp 250. Plastic bottles for herbal medicine have also risen; yesterday I bought one bale for Rp 85,000, now it’s Rp 145,000,” she said.
“Not only that, the price of plastic cups for holding cut fruit has also gone up. Yesterday it was Rp 235,000, now Rp 365,000. It’s really expensive; we’re afraid to raise prices in the current economy. Like it or not, we’re just taking a small profit,” added Ovi.
Similar increases were acknowledged by Anto, the owner of a plastic shop at Karang Jasi Market, Jalan Palapa, Cilinaya, Cakranegara, Mataram. He said the price surges started to be felt since Ramadan.
“Because of that war conflict, US and Iran. (The increases started) a week before Eid, it had already begun. Up to now, prices keep rising. The price increases vary,” he said, when met at his shop on Monday.
Anto noted that medium-sized plastic bags, previously Rp 45,000, now cost Rp 55,000. “Thinwall prices have all gone up, styrofoam packaging too. Everything has risen sharply,” he explained.
According to Anto, market traders are complaining a lot about the situation. However, they still buy because of business needs.
“Yes, they’re definitely complaining, but like it or not (they buy), because it’s needed for selling,” he emphasised.