Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia state logistics agency, Perum Bulog, announced it is ready to export rice to international markets after President Prabowo Subianto authorized the move.
“If we’re ordered to export, then we will export,” said Bulog’s Director of Procurement, Prihasto Setyanto, during a press briefing at the Parliament Complex in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, April 29. “We’re ready. Our reserves are strong.”
Prihasto stressed that Indonesia’s current rice reserves are sufficient to support domestic needs if at any time export is carried out. “We’ve continued to store our rice. It’s still being maintained as part of the government’s food reserves,” he said.
The export statement following President Prabowo’s directive during a visit to South Sumatra on April 23, signaling his approval for rice exports. “I’ve granted permission and instructed [officials] to send rice to them,” he said. Though he did not specify which countries Indonesia would target.
However, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman emphasized the importance of strengthening national rice reserves first to maintain food security.
Earlier, he revealed that Malaysia had submitted a request to import rice from Indonesia. However, the proposal was rejected to prioritize stabilizing domestic supply. “For now, I said we are safeguarding our national stock,” Amran said following a bilateral meeting in Jakarta.
Amran indicated that rice export would only proceed once domestic consumption needs are fully met, especially given the unpredictable climate conditions in Indonesia.
“We must ensure we have enough for ourselves first, more than enough if necessary. The climate is unpredictable,” he said, citing recent food crises in countries like Japan, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
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Echoing the sentiment, Arief Prasetyo Adi, head of Indonesia’s National Food Agency (Bapanas), emphasized that Indonesia must fully assess its food reserve status before engaging in international trade.
Currently, Indonesia is in the midst of a harvest season, and authorities are recalculating total stockpiles. Arief said the country holds around 2 million tons of rice in Bulog’s reserves, with an additional 1.5 million tons expected from the ongoing harvest, bringing the estimated total to 3.5 million tons.
“If everything goes well with the harvest, we could be secure through 2026 or 2027. But we can’t take that for granted. Maintaining a strategic food reserve is essential,” Arief stated.
While acknowledging President Prabowo’s export directive, Arief cautioned that any technical decision must be based on a thorough food balance analysis. “The President has said exports are allowed. But I advise that we ensure our reserves are sufficient first, then reassess our position,” he said.
(Raidi/Agung)
