Oilita Price Still IDR 17,000 Per Liter, Government Will Revise Distribution Rules

Oilita (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - The price of Oilita is currently still at the level of Rp. 17,000 per liter. This price is far above the Highest Retail Price (HET) set at Rp. 15,700 per liter. Therefore, the government will revise the rules for distributing the people's cooking oil.

Trade Minister Budi Santoso said the revision of the regulation was still under discussion. Later in the new regulations, Budi said state-owned companies could also distribute Oilita.

"We want to change the Permendag regarding that, part of the distribution can be done through food SOEs, Bulog, and others. Now discussions are being held," Budi said when met at the DPR Building, Jakarta, Thursday, September 4.

Budi said that his party together with related ministries/agencies and associations are also preparing a Oilita distribution scheme so that the prices received by consumers do not exceed the HET.

We agreed and we are actually in the changing stage. So you've had several changes in terms of distribution, "he explained.

For your information, Oilita is regulated in the Regulation of the Minister of Trade (Permendag) Number 18 of 2024 concerning Packaged Palm Oil and Governance of People's Cooking Oil.

Regarding the distribution of Minya Kita through food SOEs, it has actually been stated in Article 8, Permendag Number 18 of 2024. In paragraph (1) it is explained that cooking oil producers are required to distribute Minya Kita to the first line distributor (D1) and/or food SOEs and report shipments through the SIMIRAH system.

Meanwhile, in paragraph (2) it is explained that D1, food SOEs, and/or second line distributors (D2) are obliged to distribute Minya Kita which is received up to retailers.

In paragraph (3), it is also explained that D1 and/or BUMN food are required to report distribution through SIMIRAH.

Previously, the Minister of Trade (Mendag) Budi Santoso would evaluate the distribution flow, regulation and price of the highest retail (HET) of Oilita. The evaluation was carried out in the aftermath of the many findings of Oilita being sold above HET and the volume of the dose was less than 1 liter.

So far, the distribution flow of Oilita has been monitored in the Bulk Cooking Oil Information System (SIMIRAH). This system is used by the government to map the distribution chain and price of cooking oil specifically for the Minita brand.

"In the future, we will arrange everything. Starting from the distribution, including the repacker, then D1 (distributor 1), D2, and HET. We evaluate all of them," he said after meeting with the Indonesian Ombudsman, at the Ministry of Trade Office, Jakarta, Friday, March 21.

Budi said the government continues to monitor and evaluate. He said the findings related to the violation of the Oilita after tightening supervision on Christmas 2024 until the New Year 2025.

Furthermore, Budi said that supervision will continue to be carried out and tightened, especially ahead of Eid Al-Fitr 2025.

"Supervision continues, it is still being carried out," he said.