Dwindling rice reserves at Bulog and concerns about rice shortages in the market have triggered a price increase. In several provinces, the average price of rice has already exceeded the government-set Highest Retail Price (HET). To curb price increases, the government plans to import 500,000 tons of rice, expected to arrive by the end of January 2018.
Based on data from Hargapangan.id (January 15th), the price of medium-grade I rice in Papua reached Rp 14,250/kilogram (kg). This is the highest price compared to other provinces. The HET for medium rice in Indonesia's easternmost province is Rp 10,250/kg.
Next, the province with the second-highest price for medium-grade I rice is DKI Jakarta, at Rp 14,050/kg, while the HET for medium-grade rice on Java is only Rp 9,450/kg. Third is the Riau Islands, with a price of Rp 13,400/kg, also above the set HET of Rp 9,950/kg.