Soybean Prices Rise as the US Dollar Strengthens, Bekasi Tempe Makers Forced to Shrink Tempe Portions

BEKASI, KOMPAS.com - The rise in imported soybean prices and the weakening of the rupiah against the US dollar is beginning to be felt by tempe makers in Bekasi City.

One example is Mukapsah (52), a tempe producer on Gang Mawar VI, Margahayu Lurah, Bekasi Timur District. The woman who has run a tempe business for decades says soybean prices have continued to rise in recent times.

‘Today the price of soybeans is up to Rp1,080,000 per kuintal, previously Rp960,000. The dollar price is very influential indeed. Especially since we use imported materials,’ Mukapsah told Kompas.com at her stall, on Tuesday (19/5/2026).

Despite production costs continuing to rise, Mukapsah chooses to persevere in various ways so that customers do not switch to other sellers.

She says she did not raise tempe prices because she feared customers would object. Instead, the tempe size has to be reduced for the business to continue.

‘We have to shrink the tempe size if the price is not raised. Because customers do not want the price to rise,’ she said.

Every day, Mukapsah produces about one kuintal of tempe which is then supplied to Pasar Wisma Asri, Bekasi Utara. The tempe making process itself takes up to three days.

‘The beans are boiled first. If they are boiling, they are removed and soaked overnight. The next morning they are ground, washed clean, drained, and packed,’ she explained.

Amid rising raw material costs, Mukapsah says she continues to run her business because it is the main source of income for her family.

The same was said by Bondan Daryono (48), another tempe maker in Gang Mawar VI. He said the price of soybeans at his usual supplier has now reached Rp10,100 per kilogram, up from Rp9,500 per kilogram.

‘In terms of spending, it’s still normal because orders are the same. It’s just the profit that has decreased,’ Bondan said.

Bondan also chooses to maintain tempe prices so customers do not drift away. But to cut production costs, the contents of the tempe are reduced even though the external size remains the same.

‘If the length is still the same, only the contents are reduced,’ he said.