Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia’s food imports number have drawn attention in recent years, especially for sugar, with the total value reaching tens of trillions of rupiah. According to data from Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the country imported a staggering 3.66 million tons of sugar from January to September 2024. This import volume equates to an expense of $2.15 billion, or approximately Rp33 trillion.
“Imports of several food commodities have been relatively controlled, including rice, sugar, soybeans, and garlic,” said Acting Head of BPS, Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, during the 2024 Regional Inflation Control Coordination Meeting on October 28, 2024, as reported by CNBC Indonesia.
Indonesia’s Sugar Imports by Country:
Indonesia’s sugar imports from January to September 2024 have been dominated by five main suppliers: Brazil, Thailand, Australia, Vietnam, and South Africa. These countries provide the bulk of Indonesia’s sugar supply, which has seen significant import volumes this year, according to Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS).
Brazil tops the list, exporting 2.13 million tons of sugar to Indonesia, amounting to $1.23 billion in value over the nine-month period. Thailand follows as Indonesia’s second-largest sugar supplier, exporting 922,000 tons with a total value of $553.43 million. Meanwhile, Australia holds the third spot, with a supply of 501,000 tons valued at $283.51 million between January and September 2024.
- Brazil: 2.13 million tons valued at $1.23 billion
- Thailand: 922,000 tons valued at $553.43 million
- Australia: 501,000 tons valued at $283.51 million
Push for Food Self-Sufficiency
Indonesia’s food import reliance highlights the urgency of President Prabowo Subianto’s goal for the nation to achieve food self-sufficiency within four years. Prabowo has appointed Zulkifli Hasan as the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs to lead this initiative. On October 29, 2024, Zulkifli held a cross-ministerial coordination meeting focused on strategies to achieve food self-sufficiency by 2028.
“We’re racing against time. The President has emphasized multiple times that we must make this country food self-sufficient,” Zulkifli stated, emphasizing the importance of a unified team approach. “Achieving self-sufficiency by 2028 requires coordination across ministries. Even one ministry not cooperating can set us back.”
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Zulkifli also mentioned the significant funds allocated for village development in 2024, totaling Rp71 trillion in the national budget. Of this, Rp14 trillion (20%) remains underutilized. These funds, he noted, will be redirected to strengthen food security efforts.
“The Minister of Villages has funds for food security, more than Rp14 trillion. We plan to provide models and modules for village-level initiatives to enhance local food resilience,” he said.
With focused efforts and substantial financial support, the government is working to reduce dependency on food imports, aiming to solidify Indonesia’s food independence and safeguard the nation’s food supply for the future.
(Raidi/Agung)
