Fortune Cooking Oil Produced By Wilmar, Owned By The Conglomerate Martua Sitorus, Sold For Rp. 15,000 Per Liter At The Palembang Traditional Market

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The price of cooking oil in a number of traditional markets in Palembang, South Sumatra, is still above the highest retail price (HET) set by the government, namely bulk cooking oil of Rp. 11,500 per liter, simple packaged cooking oil of Rp. 13,500 per liter, and packaged cooking oil. premium Rp. 14,000 per liter.

The owner of Usman's shop at Perumnas Palembang Market, Usman, said that he sells Fortune brand cooking oil for Rp. 15,000 per liter because it is old stock.

"As for bulk oil and other brands, there is only the price. The goods are not available from distributors," said Usman, quoted from Antara, Saturday, February 12.

Sri, the owner of Sari Rasa Store at Perumnas Market, said that she received an offer from a distributor to sell Sunco brand products for two-liter packages for Rp26,800.

"If I sell Rp. 28,000, it means that I only earn Rp. 1,300 per two liters. I don't think I can, because usually I make a profit of Rp. 1,500 per two liters. So I choose not to sell first," he said.

Sri is still trying to sell the old stock at a price of IDR 17,000 per liter.

"Later, when they are finished, they will only sell for Rp. 14,000 per kilogram," he said.

Another basic food trader, Sholeh at Pasar Lemabang Palembang, said that until now he has not sold cooking oil because he has not received supplies from distributors since the government imposed HET.

"Moreover, buyers who ask a little, they buy a lot at Alfamart or Indomaret," he said.

Meanwhile, the price of various packaged cooking oil in the Palembang modern market is sold according to the HET. This implementation has been carried out since the government set a one-price rule for cooking oil on January 19, 2022.

Head of the South Sumatra Trade Office, Ahmad Rizali, said that his party continues to monitor the development of cooking oil prices in Palembang, from traders to distributors.

"Traders just follow the principle, what we emphasize is the distributor. We are currently monitoring directly the distributor," said Rizali.

South Sumatra's Disperidag visited three cooking oil distributors in Palembang today to find out the reason for not supplying oil at prices according to government regulations.

Previously, the Ministry of Trade implemented the One Price rule for cooking oil, which is Rp. 14,000 per liter since January 19, 2021.

This provision applies to modern retail markets, while traditional markets are given a deadline of January 26, 2022.