Indonesia plans to export premium rice to Malaysia from Entikong, West Kalimantan. Despite consistently experiencing a rice trade deficit, the government is requesting a 20 percent quota of Malaysia's rice import needs.
Data from the Ministry of Agriculture shows that Indonesia's rice trade balance has been in deficit from 1983 to 2016, except for 1993 when it recorded a surplus of 339,506 tons. Increased domestic consumption, not matched by growth in rice production, has forced Indonesia to import rice every year.
(Read Databoks: Indonesia Among Top 10 Largest Rice Importers in the World)
From 1983 to 2016, the volume of rice imports showed a sharp increase, averaging 912,810 tons or 492.31 percent per year. Although a rice importer, Indonesia also exports rice, albeit in very small quantities. Indonesia's rice exports peaked in 1993 at 342,600 tons. In 2016, Indonesia's rice exports reached 201 tons, while imports reached 1,073,720 tons. As a result, Indonesia's rice trade deficit last year reached 1,071,710 tons.