The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that Indonesia imported rice, sugar and garlic worth US$463.4 million or the equivalent of IDR 7.2 trillion (assuming an exchange rate of IDR 15,534 per US dollar) in October 2023.
This figure consists of rice imports worth US$196.7 million or IDR 3.05 trillion, sugar US$222.8 million or IDR 3.46 trillion, and garlic US$43.9 million or IDR 682.24 billion.
“So in October 2023, it was recorded that rice imports amounted to US$196.7 million,” said BPS Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics Pudji Ismartini in a press conference, Wednesday (15/11).
However, he did not specify how large the import volume of these three commodities would be. Specifically for rice, Pudji only said that exports came from Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar.
Meanwhile, sugar imports come from Brazil, Australia and Thailand.
“And for garlic, garlic imports in October 2023 will amount to US$43.9 million with the countries of origin being China, Germany and India,” added Pudji.
Separately, Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman said rice production this year would fall to 30 million tonnes from production in 2022, namely 31 million tonnes. The trigger is El Nino.
As a result, Indonesia had to import 3.5 million tons of rice for government food reserves (CPP).
“In the past we were self-sufficient, now we are forced to import. National rice production in 2022-2023 will fall due to the threat of El Nino,” he said at a working meeting with Commission IV, Monday (13/11).
Amran said that if production is not increased, Indonesia is predicted to import 5 million tons of rice combined this year and next year.
However, he hopes that will not happen. “Yes a combination of this year and next year. I mean, don’t let that happen,” he said. Amran said that next year the Ministry of Agriculture targets rice production to reach 32 million tons.
Source: CNN
