Based on data from the Directorate General of Customs processed by Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Indonesia imported 6 million tons of sugar in 2022.
The volume of sugar imports increased by 9.6% compared to 2021 (year-on-year/yoy), making it the highest record in the last five years.
In 2022, Indonesia purchased the most sugar from Thailand, while imports from other countries were smaller, as detailed in the graph.
According to I Gusti Ketut Astawa, Deputy for Food Availability and Stabilization of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), international sugar prices are increasing this year.
"The increase in international sugar prices is real, caused by various factors, ranging from the change in sugarcane allocation to ethanol in Brazil, to decreased production in India and Thailand," said Ketut, as reported by Liputan6.com, Thursday (25/5/2023).
"This condition causes global supply to decrease and world sugar prices to rise. This also impacts the price of various aspects related to sugar domestically," he continued.
To anticipate the price increase, Bapanas claims to have coordinated with various parties to prepare a Reference Price for the Purchase/Sale (HAP) of consumption sugar. This HAP is expected to control sugar price fluctuations domestically.
"We have discussed several times with colleagues, involving the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Trade, the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, including all stakeholders. We are calculating the structure of production costs, so that a fair price can be obtained," said Ketut.
"That figure (HAP) will then be brought to a meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy. When the price is released, farmers will not lose, and the price will still be reasonable for consumers," he continued.