Rawit Chili Prices Skyrocket In Early 2025, People's Purchasing Power Decreases

Chili in traditional markets/ Photo: ISt

JAKARTA - The price of red chilies in Jakarta rose dramatically in early 2025. As a result of the increase in the price of red chilies, there has been a decrease in purchasing power in a number of traditional markets.

One of the traditional markets in Jakarta that has decreased has occurred in the Perumnas Klender market, Duren Sawit District, East Jakarta. The price of red cayenne pepper in this market has exceeded the price of IDR 150 thousand per kilogram.

According to Raflis, a red chili trader, the price of chilies with good quality has reached up to Rp. 150,000 per kilogram.

"The price of good red cayenne pepper reaches Rp. 150,000, if curly chilies are Rp. 80 thousand. The price of chili varies in many classes," Raflis told reporters, Wednesday, January 8.

Raflis stated that the price of chili has continued to rise since a few days ago at the beginning of the year.

"Yesterday it was Rp. 180 thousand, but only for one day, the next day it was dropped again. Actually, the influence of sales, our name is our business if we buy expensive ones that we sell expensively, right," he said.

He further said, as a result of the increase in the price of red chilies, buyers also decreased drastically.

"Buyers shrink, decrease. Usually buy (cabai) 5 kilos, down from 2 kilos. We as traders hope that prices will be normal soon, so people can shop," he said.

The increase in chili prices is predicted to be due to the lack of supply of chili from major distributors.

"The reduced supply makes prices more expensive, that's usually the case. The weather also has an effect," he said.