Minyakita Prices in 82 Regencies/Cities Rise Above MRP, Reaching IDR 17,058 per Liter

Illustration - Minyakita. (Photo: Doc Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) stated that there was an increase in the price of cooking oil for the people or Minyakita to IDR 17,058 per liter in 82 districts/cities in Indonesia.

Director of Basic Necessities and Important Goods (Bapokting) of the Ministry of Trade Bambang Wisnubroto said that there was an increase in the price of Minyakita by 1.05 percent to IDR 17,058 per liter, where the maximum retail price (MRP) was set at IDR 15,700 per liter.

"For Minyakita itself, the increase was 1.05 percent to approximately IDR 17,058 per liter," said Bambang as reported by ANTARA, Monday, November 18.

Bambang explained that the increase in the price of cooking oil also occurred in bulk packaging to IDR 17,119 per liter.

According to Bambang, the price of bulk oil is very dependent on the price of crude palm oil (CPO).

There are 188 cities that experienced an increase in cooking oil, where the main contributors were bulk oil which increased in 146 districts/cities, Minyakita in 82 districts/cities and premium oil in 79 districts/cities.

In addition, there are 32 regions that are a priority for intervention because the price of Minyakita is above IDR 18,000 per liter, especially in the eastern part of Indonesia.

The Ministry of Trade through the Directorate General of Consumer Supervision and Trade Order (PKTN) together with the POLRI Food Task Force will carry out intensive supervision and take firm action against retailers who sell not in accordance with the MRP, as stated in the Regulation of the Minister of Trade (Permendag) Number 18 of 2024.

"Especially for Minyakita, we might take action, we think that many retailers are selling above the MRP. So we will do it in the next few weeks to provide shock therapy to the market so that they sell according to the MRP," said Bambang.

Previously, the Director General of Domestic Trade (Dirjen PDN) of the Ministry of Trade, Moga Simatupang, indicated that the increase in the price of Minyakita which reached IDR 17,000 per liter was due to the formation of a long distribution chain so that retailers did not directly take it from the distributor.

With a long distribution, it is possible that there will be transactions between retailers so that the selling price in the community becomes higher.

"Although the distribution of Minyakita has been regulated through Permendag 18/2024, it is possible that transactions will occur between retailers in the market. This is considering the high demand for Minyakita," said Moga.