Indonesia to import rice from Vietnam to curb price hikes
Indonesia will import 500,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam and Thailand to contain rice price hikes and declining supply in the local market, said Indonesian Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita.
Rice loading at Sai Gon Port in HCM City. (Photo: VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia will import 500,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam andThailand to contain rice price hikes and declining supply in the local market, saidIndonesian Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita.
The type ofimported rice will be of premium quality, not grown in Indonesia, so it will notharm local farmers and rice production, Lukita said on January 12.
The country’s currentrice stocks were estimated at about 950,000 tonnes, most of which is low-graderice to be distributed as aid for low-income people. Meanwhile, the rice stocksfor commercial purposes were only 11,000 tonnes.
Previously,Indonesia Vice President Jusuf Kalla had called on the National LogisticsAgency (Bulog) to consider importing rice to bring down domestic prices.
According to theNational Strategic Food Prices Information Centre (PIHPSN), the medium-qualityrice is currently fetched at 14,100 IDR, or 1 USD, per kg.
The rice pricesvaried among regions. West Papua reported the highest price of 14,250 IDR perkg while the lowest price of over 9,700 IDR per kg was found in West NusaTanggara.-VNA
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Rice loading at Sai Gon Port in HCM City. (Photo: VNA)
