The price of medium-quality rice has shown an upward trend since September 2017. Despite the government implementing a Highest Retail Price (HRP), market prices have risen significantly above the benchmark. To curb price volatility in the market due to reduced supply, the government imported 500,000 tons of rice through the state-owned logistics agency, Perum Bulog.
At the National Strategic Food Price Information Center (PIPHS), the price of medium-quality grade II rice reached Rp 12,100/kg on February 7, 2018, up Rp 500/kg from the end of last year. Meanwhile, medium-quality grade I rice increased by Rp 450/kg to Rp 12,300/kg.
However, according to the Ministry of Trade's data, the price of medium-quality rice remains at Rp 10,838/kg, only slightly up by Rp 4/kg compared to the end of last year. In fact, the price of medium rice fell by Rp 426/kg from its highest price of Rp 11,264/kg (January 29).