10 Provinces with the Highest Medium-Grade Rice Prices at the Start of 2024

The Ministry of Trade's Staple Food and Market Monitoring System (SP2KP) shows that at least 10 Indonesian provinces had the highest average medium-grain rice prices on Thursday (4/1/2024).

North Maluku ranked first as the province with the most expensive medium-grain rice, averaging Rp16,000 per kilogram (kg). The national average price for medium-grain rice is Rp13,700 per kg.

The price of rice in North Maluku even exceeded the national average price for premium rice, which is Rp15,200 per kg.

Second is North Kalimantan, with an average price of Rp15,600 per kg. Third is Riau, with a price of Rp15,267 per kg.

Fourth and fifth are Gorontalo and West Sumatra, with prices of Rp15,069 per kg and Rp15,042 per kg, respectively.

The provinces with the cheapest medium-grain rice prices are Jambi (Rp11,500 per kg), East Java (Rp12,277 per kg), and Riau Islands (Rp12,333 per kg).

Here is a complete list of the 10 provinces with the highest average medium-grain rice prices in Indonesia on Thursday (4/1/2024):

1. North Maluku: Rp16,000 per kg
2. North Kalimantan: Rp15,600 per kg
3. Riau: Rp15,267 per kg
4. Gorontalo: Rp15,069 per kg
5. West Sumatra: Rp15,042 per kg
6. West Papua: Rp15,000 per kg
7. Papua: Rp14,889 per kg
8. Maluku: Rp14,700 per kg
9. West Kalimantan: Rp14,500 per kg
10. South Kalimantan: Rp14,444 per kg.

According to *Katadata*, the increase in rice prices is one of the main contributors to inflation this year. The average price of medium-grain rice increased by 22% throughout 2023.

President Joko Widodo explained that the phenomenon of rising rice prices is occurring not only in Indonesia but also in various other countries.

"All countries are experiencing it, but the increase in our country is not as drastic as in other countries," Jokowi said in an official statement via a video uploaded to the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube account on Tuesday (2/1/2024).

He explained that the current increase in rice prices is due to climate change, namely the El Niño phenomenon. In addition, he said that 22 countries have stopped exporting rice, causing price fluctuations.

"We can still control prices because the Bulog's stock at the end of last year was still 1.4 million tons," said Jokowi.

(See also: Rice Became the Biggest Contributor to Inflation at the End of 2023)