Indonesia's rice imports reach 1.59 million tons until August 2023, mostly from Thailand.

Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that Indonesia's rice imports reached 1.59 million tons during the January-August 2023 period.

Acting Head of BPS, Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, stated that these rice imports were dominated by semi-milled or wholly milled rice.

"This category has dominated rice imports for some time. Its share is around 88.52%," said Amalia in a virtual press conference on Friday (September 15, 2023).

Based on country of origin, the majority of rice imports to Indonesia came from Thailand, reaching 802,000 tons or contributing 50.36% of total rice imports.

Second place was occupied by Vietnam with import volume of 674,000 tons, contributing 42.33%.

Third, from India, which imported 66,000 tons of rice to Indonesia, comprising 4.16% of total rice imports.

This was followed by Pakistan with 45,000 tons, or 2.85%. Imports from other countries totaled only 5,000 tons, contributing 0.30%.

Previously, President Joko Widodo stated that 250,000 tons of rice imports from Cambodia would soon arrive in Indonesia. This rice will be used as government rice reserves (CBP).

"(Rice imports from Cambodia) are underway," Jokowi said at the Bulog Dramaga warehouse, Bogor, as reported by Tempo.co.id on Monday (September 11, 2023).

He also explained that the rice imports from Cambodia are the remainder of the import assignment quota to Perum Bulog of 400,000 tons.

It should be noted that the government set a rice import quota of 2 million tons this year. Bulog, as the importer, has brought in 1.6 million tons of rice from various Asian countries.

Despite this, Jokowi said the government will reopen the option of rice imports. The aim is to meet CBP stocks next year because domestic production is declining due to the extreme El Niño drought.

"We already have a lot of stock, but we are still looking at where we can (export). Not for now, but for next year," he explained.

(See also: This is the Trend of Rice Imports Since Jokowi Took Office, Will it Increase in 2023?)