Government Temporarily Stops Imports Of Raw Crystal Sugar 200,000 Tons

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government has decided to temporarily suspend imports of raw crystal sugar (GKM) or raw sugar for the industry as much as 200,000 tons.

Trade Minister Budi Santoso said that in the 2025 commodity balance (NK) the import quota for the raw material for refined sugar was set at 4.39 million tons. Meanwhile, 4.19 million tons have obtained import permits to enter Indonesia.

Of this amount, continued Budi, there are around 200,000 tons of crude crystal sugar that entrepreneurs have not used to obtain import permits. He said that amount was temporarily suspended imports by the government.

"Yes, raw sugar is for industry. So 4.3 million tons of NK arrangement (commercial balance). Then those who enter, those who have applied for a permit are 4.198 million tons. That means there are still 200,000 tons, no one has submitted it, we will hold it first. That means those who have not submitted it," he said. met at the Ministry of Trade, Central Jakarta, Friday, September 12.

Budi said the decision to temporarily suspend imports of raw crystal sugar was the result of a limited coordination meeting at the Ministry of Food Affairs, Thursday, September 11.

Furthermore, Budi said that the temporary suspension of imports of 200,000 tons of raw crystal sugar was carried out as a step to evaluate sugar management.

In addition, Budi revealed that currently the realization of a crystal sugar import permit of 4.19 million tons or 2.96 million tons that has entered Indonesia. He said the rest would still enter because they had obtained permission from the government.

"What's the rest of the 30 percent? It's still running," he said.

When asked about the temporary suspension of imports due to the leaking of refined sugar to the market, Budi said this was handled by the Food Task Force (Satgas).

"It's still being processed, yes, we will continue to monitor the Food Task Force and so on," he said.