Supply constraints keep prices of staple foods such as rice and beef high

Prices of several food commodities in traditional markets remain fairly high. According to information from rice traders at Pasar Sumber, in Cirebon Regency, for lower quality rice grade I is Rp14,000 per kilogram and grade II Rp13,500 per kilogram. Medium quality rice grade I is sold at Rp15,200 per kilogram and medium II Rp14,500 per kilogram. For premium quality rice grade I reaches Rp16,800 per kilogram and premium II Rp15,850 per kilogram. ‘Prices from the distributors have not shown a decline,’ said Rani, 43, a rice seller in the market, on Wednesday (4/3). The average increase is Rp50 per kilogram compared to the previous day.

Meanwhile at Pasar Pasalaran, Plered, in Cirebon Regency, the prices of several food commodities remain high. ‘Supply has not fully loosened, making prices hard to drop,’ said Dedi, 52, a beef trader at the market. For beef price grade one is still at Rp150,000 per kilogram and grade two at Rp140,000 per kilogram. According to Dedi, beef prices since the start of Ramadan until now have not fallen. Dedi even believes prices will rise again ahead of Eid al-Fitr.

In addition to high prices for some commodities, there are also items whose prices have fallen slightly. Fresh chicken now ranges from Rp40,000 to Rp41,000 per kilogram, a decrease of about Rp1,000 from before. For chicken eggs now sold at Rp31,000 per kilogram or Rp1,000 lower than before.

Premium granulated sugar now reaches Rp19,000 per kilogram and Rp18,000 per kilogram for local sugar. For bulk cooking oil the price is Rp20,550 per kilogram, while branded packaged oil ranges from Rp21,300 to Rp21,950 per kilogram.

Other commodities that have also fallen in price include large red chillies to Rp42,000 per kilogram, curly red chillies to Rp43,000 per kilogram, green bird’s eye chillies to Rp51,000 per kilogram, and red bird’s eye chillies to Rp93,000 per kilogram. The reductions range from Rp1,000 to Rp3,000 per kilogram. Nevertheless, traders say these prices are still relatively high for many consumers. ‘Prices have indeed fallen since last week, but red bird’s eye chillies at almost Rp100,000 remain high,’ said Lina, 38, a trader at Pasalaran market.

As for onions, medium-sized red onions are recorded at Rp46,000 per kilogram, down Rp2,000 per kilogram. (H-2)

The government’s Cheap Food Movement programme (GPM) provides SPHP rice at Rp57,500 per 5 kg pack, cooking oil at Rp15,000 per litre, beef at Rp140,000 per kilogram, and chicken at Rp54,000 per 2 kg.

Red bird’s eye chilli price briefly hit Rp100,000 per kilogram, then fell to Rp80,000 per kilogram, and is now back near Rp100,000 per kilogram.

Green bird’s eye chilli, previously averaging around Rp49,400 per kg, rose to Rp52,200 per kg.

Curly chilli price declined to Rp30,000–Rp35,000 per kilogram from the previous Rp40,000 per kilogram.

As Ramadan enters its second week in 1447 H, prices of eggs, chillies, and onions in Sukabumi have started to fall. See the latest food price list and stock of staple groceries here.