Minister of Trade Budi Santoso stated that the rice export plan must first be discussed in the commodity balance to ensure domestic food availability is maintained.

“If the export is because maybe the consideration is a surplus, that’s enough. But later it must be discussed first in the commodity balance,” Budi said, quoted from ANTARA, Sunday, May 18.

He explained that rice commodities are one of the most stringent arrangements because they are directly related to the basic needs of the community.

Therefore, export policies cannot be carried out immediately without going through the established mechanism.

“If the rice is in accordance with the commodity balance, as long as it is determined in the commodity balance, we are ready,” he said.

Previously, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono revealed that Indonesia is now ready to export rice to Malaysia. According to him, several countries routinely import rice from year to year, and Indonesia is ready to meet these needs when needed.

This export is also said to be in accordance with President Prabowo Subianto’s directives which emphasizes the importance of increasing Indonesia’s food competitiveness at the regional and global levels.

Currently, the Government Rice Reserve (CBP) stock is recorded at 3,701,006 tons. This figure makes Indonesia the country with the largest rice stock in the ASEAN region, even surpassing major producer countries such as Thailand and Vietnam.

This data is reinforced by a report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the April 2025 edition of Rice Outlook which noted that Indonesia’s rice production for the 2024/2025 planting season is estimated at 34.6 million tons. This figure is up 600 thousand tons from the previous projection and an increase of 4.8 percent compared to last year.

Indonesia’s rice stock, which has now crossed the highest figure since the founding of Perum Bulog in 1969, is even estimated to reach 4 million tons. This achievement is a new record in the history of national food security and reflects the state’s alignment with local farmers.

This abundant stock is considered to be a strategic instrument of the country to maintain rice price stability in the domestic market as well as strengthen Indonesia’s position in dealing with global food pressures.

Published Date: May 18, 2025