Indonesian farmers help drive down global rice prices: minister

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that Indonesian farmers play a crucial role in lowering global rice prices by boosting national production without relying on imports, thereby helping keep global supply stable and prices affordable.

Sulaiman noted that the international price of rice has recently dropped to around US$390 per ton, down from US$460 per ton when Indonesia was still importing rice.

"What does that mean? It means Indonesia has an influence on global rice prices," he remarked here on Wednesday (May 14).

He explained that the decline in global prices was inseparable from Indonesian farmers' success in maintaining a stable supply and demand, which helps ease the burden on rice-consuming countries.

Sulaiman pointed out that while rice production in ASEAN countries, including Thailand and Malaysia, is declining, Indonesia has recorded a significant increase in rice stocks in early 2025.

The minister noted that the national rice stock has reached 3.7 million tons and is targeted to hit 4 million tons in the next 15 to 20 days due to a smooth harvest.

He described this achievement as a milestone in national food management and emphasized that Indonesian farmers are the nation's true food heroes.

With abundant stocks and declining global rice prices, Indonesia is recognized as a key player in maintaining rice price stability in Southeast Asia.

Sulaiman expressed hope that this achievement will motivate all stakeholders to continue supporting farmers and strengthening food security for the people's welfare and the regional market's stability.

"Our farmers contribute to making world food, especially rice, cheap,” he remarked.

Indonesia last imported large quantities of rice in 2024. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), by November 2024, Indonesia had imported around 3.85 million tons of rice, a 62 percent increase from the same period in the previous year.

These imports mainly came from Thailand (1.19 million tons), Vietnam (1.12 million tons), and Myanmar (642,000 tons).

However, in early 2025, Indonesia announced a plan to halt rice imports to support food self-sufficiency.

The Ministry of Agriculture targets domestic production of 32 million tons in 2025, up by 2 million tons from the 2024 figure of 30 million tons.