TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Andi Amran Sulaiman, Indonesia’s Agriculture Minister, ensured that national rice availability ahead of Christmas 2026 and New Year 2027 is safe, with stocks reaching 4.5 million tons.

“Our rice stock is currently 4.5 million, with a little more than a month left (before 2027). We estimate this will be the highest year-end stock since independence,” he said on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.

He made the statement after attending a limited coordination meeting on determining volume, budget readiness, payment mechanisms, and adjustment and reallocation of 2026 and 2027 subsidized fertilizers.

He said 33 countries are holding back rice supplies, so Indonesia needs to ensure food reserves remain available to meet public needs sustainably.

Sulaiman estimated that the year-end national rice stock will be the highest since Indonesia’s independence, so people need not worry about the year-end holiday period.

On rice prices rising despite abundant national stocks, he said the government found violations in distribution that affected market prices.

He cited fortified rice that should sell for around Rp13,000 per kg but was found marketed at up to Rp50,000 per kg by certain parties.

He also revealed a practice of unpacking rice from the Food Supply and Price Stabilization (SPHP) program, repackaging it, and reselling it as premium rice at higher prices.

The government has named 13 suspects in the case and is still developing the investigation to uncover other parties involved in illegal rice distribution.

“Have you read the news about those arrested? Fortified rice, the price should be Rp13,000 per kg and they sell it at Rp50,000 per kg. Then blending, SPHP rice is unpacked and sold as premium. Thirteen suspects have been arrested today,” he said.

Published Date: November 12, 2026