Thai Shallots Circulate in Klungkung's Galiran Market, Traders Anxious

Imported shallots from Thailand are circulating in Galiran Market, Klungkung, Bali. This has unsettled local shallot traders. The supply of the foreign commodity has caused local shallot prices in the market to plummet drastically.

One local shallot trader at Galiran Market, Mujakir Ilyas, complained that the circulation of the foreign commodity suddenly became abundant in recent days. The arrival of Thai shallots caused the price of local shallots, which had previously reached Rp 28,500 per kilogram, to now drop to Rp 24,000 per kg.

“They came in around 7 August. The problem is that these imported goods arrived when prices were at their best. Shallots with quality almost the same as local ones came in at a very low price. At the warehouse, the price is Rp 15,000 per kilo. That is far different from local shallots, which range from Rp 19,000 to Rp 23,000 per kilo,” Mujakir said when met at Galiran Market on Sunday (16/8/2026).

So far, shallots at Galiran Market have come from Bima, Java, and Kintamani, Bangli. Although they come from various regions, the price of local shallots is relatively the same, so it does not cause concern among traders.

The arrival of imported shallots from Thailand has made traders worried, especially as the main harvest season has begun. Local shallot stocks are automatically abundant in the market, but consumers prefer the cheaper imported shallots.

According to Mujakir, based on his observations, the imported shallots were brought in by trucks of around 10 tonnes at night. He initially suspected the shallots came from NTT. However, after digging deeper with his business contacts in NTT, he learned that there were no shipments to Bali.

After that, Mujakir sought information from business contacts in Java who work in the import-export sector. From there, he finally learned that the shallots being sold at a low price came from Thailand.

“So this information is something I can be accountable for. I have also posted it on my social media. From that post, it turns out many traders already knew and share the same concerns,” Mujakir explained.

Mujakir urged the regional and central governments to immediately step in and investigate the alleged circulation of imported shallots in the market. He asked the government to immediately control the distribution flow of the foreign commodity, especially in Klungkung.

“We ask the government and law enforcement officials to act firmly. Please investigate the alleged circulation of these imported shallots at Galiran Market. If there are no restrictions or direct checks during this main harvest season, the fate of local shallot traders and farmers is truly hanging by a thread,” Mujakir stressed.

Traders at Galiran Market are still waiting for concrete action from the Klungkung Department of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Trade to address the alleged circulation of foreign shallots in the market. The Head of the Klungkung Department of Cooperatives, SMEs, and Trade, I Komang Dharma Suyasa, had not responded to detikBali as of the publication of this report.