Oilita Price Reaches IDR 17,100 Per Liter, Trade Minister Claims Safe Supply

Oilita (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - Ahead of the 2024 Christmas and New Year 2025 (Nataru) holidays, the prices of several food commodities will usually increase. Currently, the government's concern is the increase in the price of Oilita.

Based on data from the Ministry of Trade, the national average price of Oilita has increased to Rp17,100 per liter from the Highest Retail Price (HET) of Rp15,700 per liter.

The Minister of Trade (Mendag) Budi Santoso said the supply of Oilita was safe. Although, he said, in some areas, especially Eastern Indonesia, it has increased above HET.

"In terms of supply, there is no problem, yes, according to the DMO, all needs are met," he said at a press conference at the Ministry of Trade Office, Jakarta, Thursday, November 28.

Budi also claimed that from the Domestic Market Obligation (DMO), Oilita was in a safe condition. The DMO recorded at the Ministry of Trade is 150,000 tons.

"Now, that's it, this month November alone has 150,000 tons, that's actually enough, that's enough. Well, yes, it's outside of oil, this is for oil. So actually it was conveyed in terms of supply, there was no problem," he said.

Regarding the price of Oilita which reached Rp. 17,100 per liter, Budi said it was only a problem with distribution flow. He said his party had met with the distributor so that they could solve this distribution problem.

"Well, after checking friends in the field, it's for the regions, of course, it's just a distribution problem. Yes, the distribution is not smooth, then the distribution from D2 to retailer is not smooth, this is what we will arrange," he said.

Budi also said that before Nataru, the Ministry of Trade, the Food Task Force, and the Trade Department would supervise various regions. Especially, to areas where the supply is reduced.

Furthermore, Budi also hopes that with this step, the price of Oilita which has increased in several regions can gradually fall.

"Yes, 2 to 3 days have gone down, so it's back to normal," he said.