Early 2023, Minyakita Oil Prices Exceeded the Highest Retail Price (HET) in 29 Provinces

The Ministry of Trade launched Minyakita, a simple packaged cooking oil brand, in July 2022. The product was intended to curb rising cooking oil prices domestically, bringing them back down to the government-set Highest Retail Price (HET).

"Minyakita will be distributed throughout Indonesia with a highest retail price (HET) of Rp14,000 per liter," stated the Ministry of Trade in a press release mid-last year (6/7/2022).

However, this government-owned cooking oil product proved not immune to market fluctuations.

Data from the Ministry of Trade's Market and Basic Needs Monitoring System (SP2KP) shows that in several regions, Minyakita's price exceeded the HET since its launch.

In Gorontalo, for example, between August and October 2022, Minyakita was sold at around Rp15,000 to Rp14,142 per liter. During the same period, the price in Southeast Sulawesi ranged from Rp18,000 to Rp15,688 per liter.

By early February 2023, Minyakita's price had surpassed the HET in 29 provinces, while only 5 provinces remained compliant.

The following is a breakdown of provinces where Minyakita's price exceeded the HET as of February 7, 2023:

1. Gorontalo: Rp20,000
2. South Sulawesi: Rp16,340
3. Bengkulu: Rp16,150
4. North Sulawesi: Rp15,950
5. Yogyakarta Special Region: Rp15,910
6. Central Java: Rp15,740
7. East Kalimantan: Rp15,550
8. Banten: Rp15,500
9. Bangka Belitung: Rp15,490
10. South Sumatra: Rp15,400
11. Lampung: Rp15,090
12. South Kalimantan: Rp15,090
13. Southeast Sulawesi: Rp15,050
14. East Nusa Tenggara: Rp15,030
15. West Sulawesi: Rp15,000
16. West Java: Rp14,970
17. West Nusa Tenggara: Rp14,900
18. Central Sulawesi: Rp14,900
19. Bali: Rp14,750
20. East Java: Rp14,700
21. Central Kalimantan: Rp14,600
22. North Kalimantan: Rp14,550
23. West Sumatra: Rp14,480
24. West Kalimantan: Rp14,410
25. Papua: Rp14,320
26. Aceh: Rp14,300
27. Riau: Rp14,260
28. Jakarta: Rp14,200
29. Riau Islands: Rp14,060

The following provinces still had Minyakita prices compliant with the HET as of February 7, 2023:

1. North Sumatra: Rp14,000
2. Jambi: Rp14,000
3. Maluku: Rp14,000
4. North Maluku: Rp14,000
5. West Papua: Rp14,000

On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, the Ministry of Trade discovered over 500 tons of Minyakita that had not been distributed to the market since December 2022. This Minyakita was found in the warehouse of PT Bina Karya Prima in Marunda, North Jakarta, and has been sealed by authorities. Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan stated that the Food Task Force (Satgas Pangan) will investigate.

"The Food Task Force will investigate whether there were any violations," said Zulkifli, as reported by *Katadata*, Tuesday, February 7, 2023.