According to data from the Ministry of Trade's Basic Needs and Market Monitoring System (SP2KP), the average price of granulated sugar in Indonesia reached Rp14,481 per kilogram (kg) in May 2023.
This price showed minimal growth, increasing by only 0.5% compared to April 2023 (month-on-month/mom), but remained 1.5% cheaper than the average price in May of the previous year (year-on-year/yoy).
The price has remained relatively stable at around Rp14,000 per kg since the last quarter of 2022, as shown in the graph above.
Over the past five years, the national average price of granulated sugar reached its highest record in April 2020, at Rp18,443 per kg.
At that time, domestic sugar prices surged dramatically, coinciding with the initial emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the implementation of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) in Jabodetabek.
Returning to 2023, granulated sugar prices still vary across regions. In some provinces, prices exceeded Rp15,000 per kg, while in others they remained below Rp14,000 per kg.
Granulated sugar prices are generally higher in Eastern and Central Indonesia but tend to be cheaper in Western Indonesia.
Below is a list of the 10 provinces with the highest average granulated sugar prices in May 2023:
1. Papua: Rp15,810 per kg
2. West Papua: Rp15,798 per kg
3. North Maluku: Rp15,500 per kg
4. Maluku: Rp15,243 per kg
5. North Sulawesi: Rp15,214 per kg
6. Gorontalo: Rp15,048 per kg
7. Central Sulawesi: Rp15,045 per kg
8. North Kalimantan: Rp15,000 per kg
9. West Sulawesi: Rp15,000 per kg
10. East Nusa Tenggara: Rp14,950 per kg
Next, here are the 10 provinces with the lowest average granulated sugar prices in May 2023:
1. East Java: Rp13,267 per kg
2. Riau Islands: Rp13,588 per kg
3. Bali: Rp13,633 per kg
4. Central Java: Rp13,710 per kg
5. Bangka Belitung: Rp13,743 per kg
6. Jambi: Rp13,779 per kg
7. Yogyakarta Special Region: Rp13,862 per kg
8. Bengkulu: Rp14,000 per kg
9. Lampung: Rp14,000 per kg
10. West Sumatra: Rp14,029 per kg