Ministry Of Trade Ensures Bapok Prices Are Stable, Zulkifli Hasan: People Don't Need To Worry

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) continues to coordinate with stakeholders to ensure that the prices of basic necessities (bapok) are stable and under control and inflation is on target during the 2023 Christmas and 2024 new year periods.

"The public does not need to worry, the government guarantees that the prices and supply of bapok are controlled so that inflation is maintained according to the target," said Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan, quoted by Antara, Tuesday.

According to Zulkifli, the period of Christmas 2023 and the new year 2024 is a sweet milestone in maintaining supply stability and prices for basic goods throughout 2023.

The reason is, inflation on a calendar year (run) or in November was recorded at 2.19 percent.

"This means that it is controlled and still within the target of inflation at 2-4 percent. Meanwhile, in the previous year it was recorded at 2.86 percent," he said.

The Ministry of Trade periodically continues to monitor prices and supplies through the Market Monitoring and Basic Needs System (SP2KP).

Based on the results of the monitoring of 679 markets in 503 regencies/cities on Friday, (22/12), in general, the price of bapok compared to the previous week tends to be stable.

The commodity of various chilies began to decline in most parts of Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi as supply gradually increased.

Nationally, the price of curly red chili fell to Rp63,700/kilogram compared to the previous week which was recorded at Rp72,800/kilogram, a large red chili of Rp64,600/former kilogram of Rp71,900/kilogram, and a red cayenne pepper of Rp89,800/former kilogram of Rp97,100/kilogram.

Meanwhile, the prices of several other commodities were observed to be stable. These commodities include wheat flour of Rp. 13,200/kilograms, broiler meat of Rp. 36,200/kilograms, broiler eggs of Rp. 29,400/kilograms, and garlic of Rp. 33,000/kilograms.

In addition, rice commodities, especially medium rice, are nationally stable at a price of Rp. 13,700/kilograms and premium rice of Rp. 15,100/kilograms.

The stability of rice prices is supported by the government's SPHP rice program with the achievement of distribution realization reaching more than 1.1 million tons.

On the other hand, cooking oil prices were also monitored to be stable throughout 2023. This price stability is supported by the Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) program which is able to maintain domestic cooking oil supply.

Ahead of Christmas and the new year or in the last three months, the realization of this program has approached 100 percent with a maintained proportion of 35 percent of Oilita.

As for the national average price, bulk cooking oil was recorded at Rp. 14,500/liter, Oilita was Rp. 15,100/liter, and premium packaged cooking oil was Rp. 20,600/liter. Meanwhile, the sugar commodity experienced a little fluctuation compared to the previous month, bringing it to Rp. 17,300/kilogram.

In addition, the price of shallot commodities also fluctuates to Rp35,600/kilogram. However, this increase is towards reasonable because previously the price of shallots was at a very low level.