Staple Food Prices in Batam Remain High, Dependent on Distributor Supply

The prices of several staple foods in Batam City remain difficult to lower as of mid-June 2026. This situation is forcing some residents to reorganise their spending on daily kitchen needs. The pressure on staple food prices aligns with Batam’s inflation, which has tended to increase since the beginning of 2026. Batam’s annual inflation was recorded at 2.74 per cent in January, 3.13 per cent in February and March, 3.26 per cent in April, and then rose to around 3.99 per cent in May 2026. A number of food commodities such as rice, eggs, chicken meat, vegetables, chillies, shallots, and fish remain a concern for the public. Although some prices fluctuate, overall staple food prices have not shown a significant decline. One consumer, Cece, 45, admitted that she now compares prices at several stalls more often before buying kitchen necessities. “Now you can’t just buy everything in one place. I look around first to see which is cheaper, because even a small difference still affects daily shopping,” she said when met at Cipta Puri market on Thursday (18/6). Another consumer, Hasyim, 40, said the price increases have led him to prefer buying staple goods only in necessary quantities. “Now I shop just enough, as long as the main needs are met. If you buy everything in bulk, expenses swell,” he said. Meanwhile, a staple goods trader at Nagoya market in Lubuk Baja District, Yuk Siah, 33, mentioned that the prices of several commodities continue to change according to supply from distributors. “So everything depends on the distributor. If supply is smooth, prices can drop a little. But if goods are difficult to bring in or demand rises, prices quickly go up again. We traders only adjust prices from suppliers,” she said. According to traders, commodities like chillies, shallots, and vegetables are among those whose prices change the fastest. Meanwhile, rice, eggs, and chicken meat tend to remain at high levels. The acting head of the Batam Trade and Industry Office has not yet provided a statement regarding the staple food price conditions. As of this writing, the office has not been willing to comment. Residents hope that the supply of staple foods remains smooth so that market prices can be more stable. As of Thursday, 18 June 2026, staple food prices in Batam generally remain high and have not shown a significant overall decline.