Trade Minister Wants Potential Increase In Chili Prices To Chicken Ahead Of Christmas And New Year

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Budi Santoso warned of the potential increase in the prices of a number of food commodities during Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 (Nataru). For example, chilies, chicken eggs to chicken meat.

"Usually, before the new year, chickens, chilies, eggs (potentially experiencing price increases)," he said in Jakarta, Friday, November 21.

However, Budi said chili commodities need to be anticipated. This is because the prices of basic commodities often spike during the year-end period until the beginning of the year.

Furthermore, Budi said the increase in chili prices was also due to natural factors, namely extreme weather.

"Usually, what Nataru needs to anticipate is chili. Chili is anticipated. We have anticipated it continuously. Chili is usually at the end of the year at the beginning of the year. But because of the actual weather factor. Because it keeps raining. Not because you want Nataru," he said.

However, Budi said that based on his observations in a number of markets, commodity prices are still in stable condition.

He admitted that he had monitored the prices of one of the markets in Bandung, West Java; Padang, West Sumatra and Surabaya, East Java.

"But yesterday in Bandung, the eggs were Rp. 29,000 per kg, right if the eggs were HAP Rp. 30,000 per kg. The cattle meat was Rp. 130,000 to Rp. 140,000 per kg, the HAP was Rp. 140,000 per kg. Then many other SPHPs. So it tends to be normal," he said.

Even so, Budi hopes that there will be no increase in the price of basic commodities ahead of the long Nataru holiday. He also admitted that he continued to anticipate price fluctuations in the market.

"Nothing temporary. Hopefully not. Yes, we will anticipate it continuously," he said.