Prices Of Sugar Consumption Are Expensive, Trade Minister Zulhas: It's Starting To Down

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - The price of Consumai sugar is currently soaring, aka expensive. In fact, the price reaches IDR 20,000 per kilogram (kg) in the market in the North Jakarta area.

Responding to this, the Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan admitted that the price of sugar is indeed high in the market. However, it has gradually dropped.

The man who is familiarly called Zulhas explained that the price decline was in line with the entry of the sugar milling season.

"Yes, the outside price is still expensive, but hopefully, the milling season has entered May, now from yesterday it has decreased by Rp. 20,000, Rp. 18,000 per kg. Hopefully it will go down a bit," he said at the Ministry of Trade Office, Jakarta, Friday, May 3.

In addition, Zulhas revealed that he could not import sugar to reduce the high price of sugar in the market today.

This is because in the country the milling season is taking place.

"If it's the milling season, you can't import it. The milling season starts this May," he explained.

Based on the National Food Agency (Bapanas) price panel on Friday, May 3, the national average consumption of sugar prices are IDR 18,490 per kg. It increased by about 0.22 percent or IDR 40 silver.

The highest sugar price is in Tuban Regency, East Java at IDR 20,000 per kg. Then, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) IDR 20,000 per kg. Then, North Jakarta IDR 20,000 per kg.