Visit To Wonokromo Market Surabaya, Trade Minister Zulhas: Prices Of Basic Materials Tend To Drop

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Trade)

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan is said to have just conducted a direct review of the availability of supplies and prices of basic goods (bapok) at the Wonokromo Market in Surabaya, East Java today.

On that occasion he revealed that the prices of various Bapok were stable and tended to fall. In his explanation, the price of beef has decreased to Rp. 120,000 per kilogram after last week was still at Rp. 130,000.

"Bulk cooking oil in simple packaging is priced according to the highest retail price (HET) of Rp. 14,000. The stock is guaranteed. The price tends to fall because there is excess stock," he said in a written statement, Sunday, July 31.

According to Zulhas, as Zulkifli Hasan is familiarly called, the decline in bapok prices could have a positive impact in efforts to keep inflation at bay.

"Yesterday our inflation was high. With the lower bapok price, hopefully inflation will be controlled," he said.

Based on the monitoring, the price of sugar was recorded at Rp. 13,000/kg, bulk flour at Rp. 11,000/kg, medium rice at Rp. 10,000/kg, premium packaged rice at Rp. 12,000/kg, and chicken eggs at Rp. 27,500/kg.

Then, purebred chicken Rp. 35,000/kg, shallots Rp. 40,000/kg, kating garlic Rp. 28,000/kg, large red chilies Rp. 65,000/kg, curly red chili Rp. 70,000/kg, and red cayenne pepper. IDR 65,000/kg.

Furthermore, nationally, the average bulk cooking oil price was Rp. 14,400/liter, down 8.86 percent compared to last month.

Especially for the islands of Java, Bali, Sumatra, and Kalimantan, the price of bulk cooking oil is in accordance with the HET of Rp. 14,000/liter. Even for the islands of Java and Bali, it has dropped to Rp. 12,979/liter.

Meanwhile, in other provinces, the price of this commodity showed a downward trend with details of the average price for the Sulawesi region of Rp. 14,919/liter, Nusa Tenggara Rp. 16,125/liter, Maluku and Papua Rp. 18,940/liter.

"The government will also provide export quota incentives to companies that pack bulk cooking oil using the Oilita brand," concluded Trade Minister Zulhas.