Soybean Prices Keep Rising Since the War, Tofu and Tempeh Producers Rack Their Brains

Workers produce tofu from imported soybeans in the Duren Tiga area of Jakarta on Wednesday (8/4/2026). Tofu and tempeh producers are racking their brains to continue operations amid soaring prices of imported soybeans. Currently, the price of imported soybeans has reached Rp 11,000 per kilogram in Duren Tiga, South Jakarta. (CNBC Indonesia/Muhammad Sabki) Producers opt to reduce the size of tofu and tempeh rather than raise selling prices to consumers. (CNBC Indonesia/Muhammad Sabki) CNBC Indonesia observations at a tofu factory site show several workers busy producing tofu, from grinding soybeans, cooking the extract into tofu, to the finished product. (CNBC Indonesia/Muhammad Sabki) Imported soybean prices have been rising gradually. According to producers, the price increase is due to the impact of the foreign war. From previously Rp 10,000 per kg, it rose to Rp 10,500/kg, then increased again. (CNBC Indonesia/Muhammad Sabki) “If the price rises gradually, since after Eid but yes since that American war. If it keeps going like this, soybeans could become scarce. Now the price is around Rp 11,000 per kilogram,” said Deni, a soybean producer, to CNBC Indonesia. (CNBC Indonesia/Muhammad Sabki) Traders admit that tofu production profits have slightly decreased due to the soybean price hike. They choose to adjust the tofu size rather than raise the selling price. (CNBC Indonesia/Muhammad Sabki) Tandi, one of the producers, admits to choosing to reduce the size of tempeh. According to him, this is more effective than raising the selling price of tempeh. (CNBC Indonesia/Muhammad Sabki) “If production continues, but we cope by reducing soybeans. We can reduce the volume of soybeans used, so the selling price doesn’t rise,” he explained. (CNBC Indonesia/Muhammad Sabki) Tandi hopes that the government can control imported soybean prices. So that tempeh and tofu producers still get equivalent profits. (CNBC Indonesia/Muhammad Sabki) “Yes, hopefully the price (of soybeans) can drop, so we can still make a profit even if not much,” he concluded. (CNBC Indonesia/Muhammad Sabki)