Yogyakarta Street Vendors Complain as Plastic Packaging Prices Surge Nearly 100%
Plastic packaging prices have skyrocketed in the market in recent weeks. Street food vendors in Yogyakarta are complaining and have been forced to increase their selling prices to cover the additional costs incurred.
One itinerant juice seller who usually peddles her wares in the Malioboro area, Rosi, said the price increase for plastic packaging is uniform across all wholesale shops and all types of plastic packaging products.
“Yes (prices have risen at all distributors), it started rising from the time of the war (Iran vs US-Israel), you know,” said Rosi when met in the Malioboro area on Tuesday (7/4/2026).
Rosi, who sells her juice using disposable bottles, said the price hike was sudden and quite significant. For the disposable bottles she usually uses, the increase amounted to Rp 20,000.
“The thinwall packaging has even risen by Rp 40,000, that’s for the containers for vegetable and side dish stalls,” Rosi explained.
Rosi has been forced to raise her selling prices as a result of the plastic packaging price increase.
“Yes, forced to raise it by Rp 2,000. For my regular customers, I explained the situation, and alhamdulillah, they still want to keep buying,” she clarified.
An itinerant market snack vendor, Yanti, said the plastic price increases have been ongoing since before Eid.
“Now it’s up almost 100 percent; ordinary plastic from Rp 3,000 to Rp 6,000, carrier plastic from Rp 5,000 to Rp 9,000. Today alone, it rose another Rp 2,000,” said Yanti.
Yanti admitted she has been forced to raise her selling prices, though not for all items. She also said her turnover has decreased due to this plastic packaging price increase.
“If everything goes up, it would be a pity for the buyers, so only the ones that really have to go up. We reduce our usual profits,” she explained.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Yogyakarta Provincial Industry and Trade Office, Yuna Pancawati, said the issue of plastic packaging price increases has been a national concern since the end of March 2026. In Yogyakarta itself, according to her, reports from wholesalers indicate increases since before Eid for various plastic products, including packaging and jars.
“The surge in plastic packaging prices up to 100 percent, for example, cup glasses for beverage SMEs rising from Rp 220 to Rp 440 per piece, and kresek bags nearly doubling,” Yuna explained when contacted today.
According to Yuna, this price surge was triggered by global supply disruptions, including the impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure, which increased logistics, energy, and plastic raw material costs.
“Domestic upstream plastic industry production has dropped to one-third capacity, causing prices to rise 30-60 percent at the producer level and up to 100 percent at the trader level. Vendors in Yogyakarta report uniform increases across all types of plastic due to factory adjustments,” she stated.
To help small SMEs survive the rising plastic packaging prices, Yuna said the Yogyakarta Provincial Industry and Trade Office is preparing strategic measures and assistance for transitioning to eco-friendly packaging.
This includes connecting SMEs directly with local eco-friendly packaging producers to cut the distribution chain, thereby suppressing prices through collective purchasing schemes.
“Encouraging the use of local wisdom such as natural fibres like mendong, pandan, and coconut, which are abundant in DIY, as substitutes for plastic liners or containers,” Yuna elaborated.
“Then education on eco-design. Sometimes, rising packaging costs can be compensated with more minimalistic designs that have higher selling value as premium eco-friendly products,” she concluded.