US Dollar Nears Rp 18,000 as Public Cashes in USD at Money Changers

Jakarta, Kompas.com - Several money changers in Jakarta have seen increased foot traffic this week as members of the public sell US dollars (USD) amid the strengthening of the USD against the rupiah.

Citing previous reports, the rupiah closed at Rp 17,744 per USD on Monday, 25 May 2026, and at Rp 17,880 per USD on Friday, 29 May 2026, weakening 136 points over the week.

Staff at PT Daffa Indo Valuta, Aris, said the recent USD rate increase has driven higher FX sales transactions. ‘Traffic has been rising recently because the dollar’s value is going up. So more people are selling,’ Aris told Kompas.com on Friday, 29 May.

Aris added that most transactions involve individuals selling USD to profit from the rate increase or to meet daily needs. Meanwhile, USD purchases by customers have also risen recently. Aris noted that these purchases are mostly speculative, with people holding foreign currency to profit from rrupiah depreciation. ’ speculation is common. Some people are engaging in short-term investments. With the dollar trending upward, they buy USD to potentially profit. It doesn’t take long; a 100-point increase in a month would already be profitable,’ he said.

Some individuals are still holding USD, anticipating further rupiah weakness to Rp 18,000 per USD. ’ Some people are holding their USD, expecting further appreciation. They’re waiting for it to reach Rp 18,000,’ he explained.

Branch manager of Dollarindo, Samanhudi, also confirmed similar trends. ‘USD exchange activity is high, especially for selling,’ he told Kompas.com on Friday.