Indonesia Imported 567,000 Tons of Rice in March 2024: Here Are the Suppliers

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported that Indonesia imported 567,220 tons of rice in March 2024. The import value reached US$371.60 million, or approximately Rp6.02 trillion (assuming an exchange rate of Rp16,214 per US$).

This rice import volume increased by 29.29% month-to-month (mtm) compared to February 2024, and surged by 921.51% year-on-year (yoy) compared to March of the previous year.

In March 2024, Indonesia imported the most rice from Vietnam, with a volume of 286,260 tons.

Other rice imports included 142,650 tons from Thailand, 76,610 tons from Myanmar, 61,570 tons from Pakistan, and 100 tons from India.

Amidst the surge in rice imports, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan revealed that Indonesia and China will collaborate to develop rice paddy fields in Central Kalimantan.

"We've asked them (China) to provide their rice technology, where they have been very successful in achieving self-sufficiency, and they are willing to do so," Luhut said in a post on his personal Instagram account on Sunday (April 21, 2024).

Luhut mentioned that this cooperation will be implemented to cultivate 1 million hectares of land in Central Kalimantan, including in Pulau Pisang Regency.

Currently, they are still searching for local production partners, while the offtaker or recipient of the production results in this program is Bulog (Indonesia's state-owned food logistics agency).

"We're doing this gradually; in six months from now, this project will commence. We want to invite young Indonesians in the agricultural field to participate," Luhut said.

He believes that if this program succeeds, Indonesia can reduce its rice imports.