Rice Stock In Modern Retail Is Empty, Ministry Of Trade: SPHP Has Not All Entered

The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) has opened its voice regarding the empty supply of premium rice and rice for the Stabilization of Supply and Food Prices (SPHP) at modern retail outlets recently.

Director General of Consumer Protection and Trade Order (PKTN) Moga Simatupang said the government had actually scheduled the distribution of SPHP rice to modern retailers from July 17 to December 31, 2025.

The distribution was decided in a meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs on 17 July.

However, continued Moga, the shipment of SPHP rice is not yet optimal. He also said that in the near future it would soon be distributed to modern retailers.

"So far, for modern retail, yesterday's rice report from Aprindo, only 540 tons have entered. And we hope that in the near future the supply of SPHP will be distributed soon," he said at the Ministry of Trade office, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 5.

Regarding the dragging of rice supplies in modern retail, Moga denied that the government instructed retailers to withdraw rice from sales.

Even so, Moga said that the withdrawal of rice from sales could be made by business actors if they won was needed. However, he said the government was considering the availability of goods in the market.

"What is clear is that the government is not attractive. The government only asks modern retailers to adjust prices for rice commodities that did not match yesterday's measurement and quality as well," he said.

On the other hand, Moga also opened his voice regarding changes in consumer behavior, which began to switch to stalls for fear of mixed rice. He said the national stock was in a safe condition.

"So far, the government has had a surplus, yes, rice in Bulog, GKP, yesterday there was a record of around 2.6 million tons in Bulog, 1.3 in Perpadi. And the government will guarantee rice supply from both SPHP and from rice purchased from farmers," he explained.

Premium Rice Seller Be Careful

For your information, the supply of premium rice in modern retail began to drag, and caused the circulation of rice to slow down. This is not because of scarcity, but rather a more stringent verification process in response to premium rice findings that do not match quality and quality or oplosan.

Director General of Domestic Trade (PDN) Iqbal Shoffan Shofwan revealed that when retailers began to be careful selling premium packaged rice from suppliers or suppliers.

Even so, Iqbal said that entrepreneurs who are members of the Indonesian Retail Entrepreneurs Association (Aprindo) continue to serve premium rice and do not withdraw from retail stores.

Furthermore, Iqbal also said that this was in line with the letter issued by the National Food Agency (Bapanas).

Yesterday we also communicated with Aprindo. Aprindo is actually not attractive (premium rice in retail). Only now is more careful about receiving new rice from purchases," he said when met at the Ministry of Trade Office, Jakarta, Monday, August 4.

"They really do check. Don't let it end up being a hassle for them too," he continued.

Iqbal said that retailers must also go through the verification stage by ensuring that the rice received according to packaging, volume and quality standards also follow the Indonesian National Standard (SNI).

"They have to make sure what is stated in the packaging, how heavy it is, they are verification. Then how is the SNI, they are also verification," he said.

As a result, continued Iqbal, the verification process that was carried out made premium rice displayed at modern retail outlets slow down their turnover.

So that the rice displayed in the end from the Aprindo members' outlets is a bit slow to turn around. Because there is a verification process there. So it's not rare because it's withdrawn, but because it's a long verification. It's verification," he said.