Zulhas: Plastic Prices Surge Due to Fossil-Based Raw Materials

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) stated that plastic prices have surged because they are made from fossils. Zulhas mentioned that nearly all traders in various locations have complained about the skyrocketing plastic prices in recent days. “I hear the plastic pellets have also risen extraordinarily. Because plastic is made from fuel oil,” Zulhas said when met at Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, on Saturday (28/3/2026). The Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs will discuss this plastic issue with relevant parties in a special meeting. “Yes, we will certainly discuss it specifically, why it suddenly rose so high,” Zulhas remarked. Zulhas visited Pasar Minggu to inspect the stock and prices of food commodities following Eid al-Fitr. “This usually costs Rp17 (thousand), now Rp23 (thousand). Similarly, all of them, basically plastic per pack Rp6 thousand,” said Zulhas. The surge in plastic prices has caused Gemi’s shopping costs to jump from the usual Rp60,000 per package to now exceeding Rp100,000 per package. As a result, profits from selling kitchen spices are increasingly squeezed. The rise in plastic prices is not only faced by small traders in traditional markets. State-owned companies like Perum Bulog are also grappling with this issue. Bulog’s President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani admitted that his side has coordinated with plastic producers.