Menko Zulhas: Oil is expensive in Papua-Maluku because of distribution

Coordinating Minister for Food and Agriculture Zulkifli Hasan and Trade Minister Budi Santoso/ANTARA/Aria Ananda)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Food and Agriculture Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) said the high price of Minyakita-branded cooking oil in Papua and Maluku was due to distribution constraints and transportation costs.

"(Minyakita) that is expensive is in Maluku and Papua. What does it mean? It means (there is an influence on the price from the side) of transportation," said Zulhas when reviewing the price and supply of food at the Palmerah Market, Jakarta, Wednesday, May 13, reported by ANTARA.

According to him, the price of Minyakita in Java and Sumatra has been relatively in accordance with the highest retail price (HET), while a number of eastern Indonesian regions are still facing price disparities.

Zulhas said that this condition can be monitored through the Ministry of Trade's Market and Basic Needs Monitoring System (SP2KP) application in real time.

"It is seen in SP2KP itureal time. You can open it, yes. Java, Sumatra which is close to the port is indeed blue, green, that means it is in accordance with HET. But the expensive ones are in Maluku and Papua," he said.

Data from the Ministry of Trade's SP2KP as of May 12, 2026 shows that the price of Minyakita in the Tanimbar Islands Regency, Maluku, reached Rp. 23 thousand per liter and the East Seram Regency Rp. 22.333 per liter.

Meanwhile, in Papua, the price of Minyakita was recorded at Rp20 thousand per liter in Waropen Regency, Rp19 thousand per liter in Sarmi Regency, and Rp18 thousand per liter in Jayapura Regency or still above the HET of Rp15,700 per liter.

Based on monitoring at the Palmerah Market, the price of Minyakita is sold at Rp. 15,700 per liter or according to the HET set by the government.

Zulhas said that his party had asked Perum Bulog to speed up the supply of Minyakita to a number of regions, including Papua and Maluku.

In addition, the government will involve the Ministry of Transportation because there is support for transportation subsidies to help reduce distribution costs.

"I have asked that this can be handled by Bulog, immediately supply the regions including Papua and Maluku. Later also with the Ministry of Transportation because it provides transportation subsidies so that prices can be suppressed," he said.

Based on the Ministry of Trade's SP2KP data on May 12, 2026, the national average price of Minyakita was recorded at Rp. 15,865 per liter or down 0.31 percent from the previous day.

On the same occasion, Trade Minister Budi Santoso said the national supply of Minyakita was in a safe condition and the main obstacle was distribution to certain areas.

"If the Papua and Maluku regions, it is actually a distribution problem," said Budi.

He explained that the government had set a minimum distribution obligation of 35 percent of domestic market obligation (DMO) cooking oil through Bulog and ID FOOD to strengthen distribution, especially to eastern Indonesia.

According to him, the realization of distribution through food SOEs is currently beyond the minimum provision.

"Now more than 50 percent has been distributed by the Food SOEs," he said.

Budi said that strengthening distribution through food SOEs is expected to help reduce the price disparity of Minyakita, especially in Papua and Maluku.