Good News: Soybean Prices Drop This Week, How About Tofu And Tempe?

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - World soybean prices this week decreased compared to the previous week. The Director General of Domestic Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Oke Nurwan, asked importers to adjust the price of imported soybeans. The goal is for tempe and tofu craftsmen to continue producing.

"The world soybean price has decreased. We ask for the support of business actors, especially soybean importers to maintain the price of imported soybeans so that the price of tofu and tempeh at the craftsman level remains stable. We also appreciate the commitment of soybean business actors in maintaining the availability and stability of soybean prices in fasting and Eid in 2021," he said in an official statement, Monday, May 31.

Based on data from the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), soybean prices began to show a downward trend. In the fourth week of May 2021, soybean prices were in the range of US$ 15.04 per bushels or Rp. 9,220 per kilogram (kg) landed price, down 5.1 percent from the previous week, which was US$ 15.86 per bushels or Rp. 9,604. per kg landed price.

According to Oke, world soybean prices have the potential to continue to decline. This is because some producing countries have entered the harvest period. Okay, right now, world soybean prices are still quite high.

"This will have an impact on the temporary adjustment of the prices of tofu and tempeh by 10-15 percent," he said.

Oke hopes that the decline in world soybean prices can be responded positively by domestic soybean business actors, both importers, distributors, and tofu and tempeh craftsmen. This is done to maintain the continuity of the national tofu and tempeh business.

Furthermore, Oke emphasized, the Ministry of Trade will periodically monitor and evaluate the movement of world soybean prices, both when there is a decrease or increase in price. The government will ensure that soybean prices at the level of tofu and tempeh craftsmen and prices in the market remain affordable to the public.

"We appeal to importers to ensure and continue to distribute soybean stocks regularly to all tofu and tempeh craftsmen, including members of the Indonesian Tofu and Tempe Cooperative Association (Gakoptindo) at the provincial and district/city Puskopti," he said.

The Ministry of Trade will ensure that soybean distribution continues to avoid stock shortages. In the next three months, importers will distribute at least 5,000 tons of soybeans per month to meet the needs of tofu and tempeh craftsmen.

Later, said Oke, Gakoptindo members could collect directly from the importer's warehouse. According to him, the cooperation in distributing soybeans is expected to be a momentum for the revival of national tofu and tempeh craftsmen to continue producing.

"So, people will continue to get tofu and tempeh as a source of protein at affordable prices," he explained.